The last time Paya Lebar Air Base welcomed the public was in 2016. Large crowds attended the Air Force Open House that year. This weekend's event at Paya Lebar Air Base, held to mark the Republic of Singapore Air Force's 55th anniversary, is expected to be a major crowd-puller.
RSAF 55 Open House
Paya Lebar Air Base
Saturday 9 Sep to Sunday 10 Sep 2023
9am to 6pm (The event is Free)
TIP 1
Get your queue number early
Register on the RSAF Open House website, https://www.rsaf55oh.sg/, to get in line to sit in the cockpits of various RSAF fighter aircraft.
The RSAF 55 Open House Capability Display area. Shutter bugs should note there is no spectator stand, so you may want to position yourself close to the safety barricade before the crowd builds up. Bring ear plugs - you'll need them.
TIP 2
Plan your journey so you can catch the flying display. If you're a shutter bug (no, not THAT Shutter), go early as there is no spectator stand this year. You may want to place yourself near the barricade in front of the parked F-15SG aircraft to view the display. Bring ear plugs!
Capability Display (i.e. flying display) show times:
Held twice a day. Among the highlights: You'll see two F-15SG Strike Eagles start up and takeoff, a H.225M helicopter deploy a section of seven heliborne infantry from 3 Guards, and an Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport play the role of an "aircraft in distress".
Saturday
Morning 10:30am to 11:45am
Afternoon 3pm to 4pm
Sunday
Morning 10:30am to 11:30am
Afternoon 3pm to 4pm
TIP 3
Plan your entry and exit. Note that there is NO provision for you to park at the event. So it's a choice of shuttle bus, public transport, taxi/private hire vehicle, or walking in.
Shuttle Bus locations:
18 Tai Seng S539775
Circle Line Tai Seng CC11, Exit C
1st bus: 8am
Last bus: 4:30pm
Hougang Bus Park S538833
North East Line Hougang NE14, Exit A
1st bus: 8am
Last bus: 4:30pm
By bus:
Bus 90: Toa Payoh Bus Interchange
Bus 94: Eunos Bus Interchange
TIP 4 - What's new?
The H.225M helicopter and CH-47F Chinook, the latest model of the heavy-lift helicopter, and the MRTT will go on display for the first time. This unmanned ground vehicle under trial as an airbase patrol asset is something I've not seen before. There's also a weapon loading thingy near the F-15SGs which I think is being shown for the first time.
Do note that places for aircraft joyrides have already been allocated by online balloting.
Random thoughts on RSAF55 Open House
One observation from my walkabout at Paya Lebar Air Base yesterday, where the RSAF will stage the Air Force Open House this weekend, was the large number of personnel who are first-timers to hosting such an event.
As PLAB last held an open house seven years ago, it's perhaps no surprise that many in the tribe are new to this form of public engagement. Their learning curve will be steep.
Come Saturday, that first contact with a real crowd as the seemingly endless flood of people fill queue lines, testing the patience of RSAF duty personnel and planning assumptions of event logistics, can be an eye-opener. So here are some points they may want to ponder:
* Unlike previous AFOH, there is no grandstand at show centre. This means that apart from the first few ranks, people behind may find it difficult seeing the fighter aircraft scramble and the mock attack by the heliborne Guardsmen. Some will push their way through with bulky camera equipment. There will be children and elderly. How is your crowd management plan?
* The roadside and grass verge along Airport Road can become car magnets. At previous open houses, some drivers did try their luck by parking there, thus posing a safety hazard to other road users. Errant motorists must be chased off early. Once the few pull their parking brake, more will inevitably follow. That "bridgehead" cannot be allowed to form. Good news is that the Traffic Police HQ is just down the road. Would be good to consider enlisting their support for the weekend crowd surge. In extreme situations, manual control of traffic lights may be necessary to relieve traffic congestion.
* Shuttle bus queues can be tricky, as they build up quickly. It can be hard for new arrivals to find the end of the line. Mark this prominently. Have a generous overflow area for the queue - what's the wet wx plan? And watch for the odd queue jumpers. Past open house events, particularly one at Changi Naval Base which attracted some 100,000 visitors over a weekend decades ago, made the news for the wrong reasons.
* Is there scope to include the CAAS fire engine at this late juncture? Would be nice to see one on show, perhaps alongside some FDS vehicles. Children love to get close to such vehicles. I bet some visitors will even find a display of different aircraft tugs quite interesting and Instagram-worthy.
1 comment:
Hey there! So, let me break down those tips for enjoying the RSAF Open House in 2023 like a pro, straight from my own experience.
First off, make sure to snag your queue number early. Trust me, you don't want to miss out on the chance to sit in the cockpits of those badass fighter aircraft. Head over to the RSAF Open House website and get yourself registered pronto.
Next up, plan your journey wisely so you can catch all the action. Since there's no spectator stand this year, you'll want to position yourself near the barricade to get the best view of the flying display. And don't forget those earplugs - things can get pretty loud up there!
Now, when it comes to getting in and out, think ahead. There's no parking at the event, so your options are shuttle bus, public transport, taxi, or a good old-fashioned stroll. And finally, check out what's new this year. The latest helicopters and heavy-lift models will be on display, along with some cool new gadgets like an unmanned ground vehicle. Trust me , you won't want to miss it!
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