The 29th of this month saw us going to Paya Lebar Air Base with the school of EEE and seeing as the RSAF demonstrated their incredible prowess at removing aerial threats. Obviously there was no live firing demonstration that ended in flaming wreckage and plane bits everywhere but it was just amazing seeing multimillion-dollar aircraft shooting across the sky and blasting out our eardrums at the same time.
Some of us had the privilege of flying on the C-130, a massive 4-engined beast that is the workhorse of the Air Force. It isn't the prettiest or the fastest or the most stealthy but this aircraft is the backbone of the Air Force's logistical operations. In addition to being a troop carrier it also functions as a sort of airborne Mercy Relief, ferrying supplies into storm-ravaged areas, most notably when the RSAF participated in the relief operations in Meulaboh, Indonesia when the tsunami struck on Boxing Day of 2004. No matter its job, it was still fantastic fun flying on it. The onboard air-conditioner was creating a major racket but the view! From 1500ft up, it's fantastic. Most of us have been in commercial jets far higher up but the thrill of seeing the ground in an unpressurized, noisy and plainly uncomfortable just enhanced the thrill.
Talk about getting your money's worth.
Back on the ground, some of us got t-shirts signed by Zoe Tay's hus - uh we mean the Black Knights. These hot-shot fighter jocks were on hand for photo-taking and autograph signing sessions. No words can be said of them but of pure respect. Doing aerial pirouettes and fancy manouevres takes nerves of steel and balls of iron (Ed: seeing as it is they're all guys...) and these guys can do it all. We approve.
And here be photos...
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