French museum receives Singapore fighter-jet exhibits
by Derek Yeo


FRANCE’S AERONAUTICS MUSEUM – Musee de l’Air et de l’Espace – today received from Singapore, a boost to its world famous collection of aircraft and rockets.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force gave two of its retired Super Skyhawks to the museum for permanent display. In a ceremony at Cazaux Air Base, south-west France, museum and RSAF officials inked documents marking the aircraft’s transfer and acceptance. The two aircraft comprised a single-seat "singleton" A4-SU (pictured) and a twin-seat trainer TA4-SU.

Singapore’s Ministry of Defence, in a News Release, said the gift not only enabled sharing “a part of RSAF’s heritage with our French hosts; it also showed Singapore’s “appreciation for the warm hospitality extended by the French Air Force to the RSAF”.

Eighteen Super Skyhawks had been operating from RSAF’s advanced jet training detachment at Cazaux since 1998.

The French Aeronautics Museum, elated over the Singaporean gesture, could expect delivery of the aircraft late 2006.

Some polytechnics in Singapore had received retired Super Skyhawks too, as learning aids.