S’poreans get rare chance to see RSAF pilots in action
SINGAPORE: Alerted to two unidentified aircraft in Singapore’s skies, Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) “dispatched” an air combat team to engage the bogeys.
Two RSAF fighter jet pilots were set in motion to trail the unknown aircraft, urging them to comply with the pilots’ instructions.
But when these attempts to communicate went ignored, a plan was swiftly put into action to take down the enemy aircraft.
This was just one of the scenarios the RSAF trains its pilots to tackle and the public got a rare chance to catch this in a simulated air combat just outside Bedok Mall.
“All hostiles destroyed. Our airbase is safe, we are clear to return to base,” said one of the pilots after completing the mission in a simulator with cockpit controls.
This air combat simulation was part of an event by the RSAF in celebration of its golden jubilee.
Called RSAF50@Heartlands, the event was on a two-day stop in Bedok that ended yesterday. Visitors to the exhibition got to experi- ence manoeuvring an F-16 fighter aircraft using two hand controllers.
Another simulation was for the RBS-70 missile system, in which users could target and fire missiles at other aircraft.
“We want the public to know that RSAF is a competent and professional force, and we are committed to the defence of Singapore,” said Captain Ng Pei Shun, who led the air combat simulation team.
“We also want to inspire the younger generation, for those who are interested in flying ... but also in other vocations at RSAF.”
Besides flight simulations, the public also learned how to perform resuscitation on a mannequin at the search and rescue operations booth.
Ang Moi Hong, 66, had specially brought her grandson Oliver Kok, six, to the RSAF exhibition knowing that he is interested in aircraft.
“He would always talk about his love for planes, and build plane models out of lego blocks,” she said.