>>> Calling all ex-RSAF airmen
by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 20 Mar 2006


VETERAN airmen of the Republic of Singapore Air Force are holding their annual get-together on 30 April 2006.

This year's do will be held at the Banana Leaf Apollo Restaurant in Race Course Road at 19:00 hours. The charge is SGD35 per head. Dress code: Smart Casual.

The organisers welcome and invite all - aircrews and groundcrews - who had served in RSAF's 140 Squadron (Hawker Hunters) during the late 1960s and 1970s to the event, which includes a dinner. Veteran airmen of other units in the air force are welcomed and invited too.

Those interested to join the celebration can get in touch with Mr Jason Lui Wai Mun on +65 9833 7208 or email him: luijason48@yahoo.com.sg

>>> Flight through hole-in-the-sky foiled
by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 18 Mar 2006

CONCERNS for the natural wonder’s ecology and environment prevailed in the end.

They dashed the hopes of a Russian aerobatic team of supersonic Sukhoi SU-27s to streak through the unique Zhangjiajie rock cave in Hunan province, China.

Provincial authorities stopped the aerial stunt to prevent further erosion and damage to the narrow cave known locally as “Tian Men” (Sky Gate in Chinese). Only 28m broad at one point, Tian Men measures 60m deep and 132m high. Experts felt that the aircraft's slipstream, jet exhaust and sound waves might even damage the aircraft during the stunt.

The cave gained fame in 1999 when planes flew through it during an air display contest.

The Sukhoi team is taking part in a three-day air display to celebrate the Year In Russia festival. Twenty thousand tickets are up for grabs with the costliest at RMB6,800 each.

Copyright © 2007 AIRMENews. All rights reserved.

Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 lands at Changi Airport at the recent Asian Aerospace 2006

PHOTO: Airbus SAS

>>>Airbus A380 reaches milestone of 1000 flight hours
by Airbus SAS - TOULOUSE - 10 Mar 2006


THE AIRBUS A380 programme has reached the milestone of 1000 flight hours during the flight test programme for the aircraft type since the first flight of MSN1 on 27th April 2005. The 1000th flight hour was achieved after MSN1 took off from the manufacturer’s home base in Toulouse, France, at 09.40 h local time for a flight over Southern France, including the testing of the flight control system in specific weather conditions with strong winds.

Currently, four A380 development aircraft have taken to the air. The first two aircraft are fitted with heavy test instrumentation and are actively involved in the flight test programme, successfully carrying out aerodynamics, low speed and flight vibration tests. The third and fourth aircraft have been flown to Hamburg for cabin installation, and both aircraft will be used for Early Long Flights and Route Proving Flights later this year.

These four aircraft are fitted with Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines, while a fifth aircraft will join the flight test programme in mid-2006 with Engine Alliance GP7200 engines. Eventually, the five aircraft will fly some 2,500 flight hours, ensuring maturity ahead of first delivery.

Already during the first 1,000 flight hours, hot and high trials were successfully completed in Medellin, Colombia in January 2006, while cold weather trials in February 2006 took place in Iqaluit, Canada, where temperatures reached -30 degrees. Also, airport compatibility tests at Frankfurt, Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur and Dubai yielded excellent results in late 2005.

Testing will continue throughout the year in the lead up to certification. In addition to Early Long Flights and Route Proving Flights, a hot weather campaign is scheduled for mid-year in Africa.

Upon completion of the certification process, the world’s largest commercial airliner is scheduled to be delivered to the first operator Singapore Airlines in late 2006. The A380 is already a proven success story, with 159 orders from 16 customers.

Airbus is a joint EADS company with BAE Systems.


REPORT/PHOTO: Airbus SAS

>>> Singapore aerospace investments in Panama
by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 1 Mar 2006


RELATIONS between Panama and Singapore soared to greater heights today with the inking of the Panama-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (PSFTA).

A comprehensive agreement, the PSFTA covers issues ranging from trade in goods and services, customs procedures to financial services and government procurement. The pact also calls for co-operation between Panama and Singapore in sectors including technology and science.

Aerospace projects feature prominently in Singaporean investments in the central American nation, famous for its vital international waterway - the Panama Canal. Inter-Roller Engineering signed a deal to supply a luggage handling system at Tocumen International airport in Panama. Recently, ST Aerospace clinched a contract to invest US$20 million in developing a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Panama's old Howard Airbase.

At the PSFTA signing ceremony, Vice-Minister of Commerce and Industry, Ms Carmen Gisela Vergara inked the agreement for Panama while Minister of State for Trade and Industry, and Education Chan Soo Sen signed for Singapore. Deputy Prime Minister S Jayakumar of Singapore and Panama's Second Vice-President Ruben Arosemena witnessed the ceremony.

In Latin America, Panama is Singapore's largest trading partner. Bilateral trade in 2005 hit nearly US$2 billion - a record.