Mid-afternoon
on the return from lunch jets four-abreast over Tanjong Katong corner, crossing
to the field on the other side of the former post office. Oooooh! Burning up
the blue, almost touching distance overhead. Were it not for the almighty clamour, the crowd at the air-field might have been heard. Earlier in the morning
someone had said it was the Air Show. Yes, the Air Show; big crowds along
Changi Road. Parking was impossible anywhere along there. One chap complained
he had been forced to park down at Eunos MRT; peeved that he could get no
closer to the market at Geylang Serai. In fact turned out not to be the Air
Show at all; that had taken place in February. Not the big ticket Air Show.
This was the RSAF Open Day at the Paya Lebar Air Base; a rather different, less
highly geared affair. The theme of this year’s Open Day was "Defending Our
Skies": aerial and static displays of RSAF aircraft and weapons systems (Republic
Sing. Air Force; not Royal); demonstrations of aircraft arming, simulators and
aviation-related games on the program. Fun day for the family and unlike the
bigger production that draws buyers from the region with their cheque books,
this open day was free. Only problem, there was no parking provided at the air
base, mums, dads and kiddies forced to bus it and foot-slog in order to
partake. By chance, it also happened to be Vesak Day, a national public holiday
in Sin’pore that marked the Buddha's birthday. There were other events on
elsewhere in the Republic on Vesak Day, but it does seem the displays at the
air base outdid all others. Unfortunately, the only thing, the poor old sage
was forced to put up with sharing his special day with the flying machines.
Unhappy accident. Doubtful the irony would have registered for any of the busy
local mandarins. Protecting/defending the skies was all well and good, but even
so, one could imagine the wise old Compassionate One might have been miffed at the
circumstance. That explained all the aerial thundering day after blessed day
through the last week: the lads had been getting into shape, readying for the
crowds on Vesak Day and keen to put on a proper entertainment. Syria, Iraq,
Libya were a world away. All the same, three cheers for the Buddha, not
completely over-shadowed in Singapore. Earlier, over the back fence at the
Carpmael Road temple, chopsticks had been heard clattering on the porcelain it
must have been, brought out for the occasion; late afternoon pleasant and
lulling chanting drifting over the grass.
NB.
On the following day a news-item on the world's most advanced fighter jet, the
F-35B Lockheed Martin, which Sing' is currently assessing for purchase. Possibly
it had featured in the entertainment on Vesak. Equally interesting too, the
Israeli-US-designed augmented-reality helmet, which offers pilots six cameras
mounted around the plane, giving 360* views of surrounding airspace, including
"look through" floor. A "heads-up display" projecting
directly onto the visor provides info like altitude, speed, location of enemy
aircraft or ground weapons, "right in front of the pilot's eyes".
S.T. Sunday 22 May 2016
Updated Sept23
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