Sunday, February 26, 2006

Asian Aerospace 2006 [25/02]

Since this is the last time Asian Aerospace will be held in Singapore and I have never been to an Aerospace fair before, so this will be a good chance to check it out. I hitchhiked my friend's cab to get there. We were greeted by a long queue snaking out from the security checkpoint area. But the ticket checks were fast and we were in after 15 minutes of wait. We got there around 11pm and were prepared to catch the live fly-past from 11.30 to 12.45pm.

Image hosting by Photobucket

This is the first sight that zoomed upon us the moment we left the security clearance. Scores of people checking out the exhibits all around the quadrangle.

Image hosting by Photobucket

There is also another long queue going to a prototype airplane where the visitors can have a feel of how being in the cockpit is like.

Image hosting by Photobucket

We proceeded down the path, or actually more like just tagging along the crowd through the halls and to the fly-by gallery area. There is a large open field there so the visitors can have a complete view of all the planes in the sky.

Image hosting by Photobucket

Eight planes were featured in all which has a fair mix of trainer air crafts and fighter jets. Some of the more unique sights is the UAV and the Airbus A380, supposedly the highlight of this airshow. Heard it is the largest passenger airliner on the planet now. It hovers round the sky, making a few turns here and there before settling down at the Large Aircraft Display area.

Image hosting by Photobucket

But before proceeding on to the Large Aircraft Display area, we had a quick bite at one of the refreshment area. There are too many people around, so we just have to grab what we want, eat it along the way and join in the other long queue leading to the Large Aircraft Display area.

Image hosting by Photobucket

As the Large Aircraft Display area is quite a distance away, all the visitors have to take the runway bus there.

Image hosting by Photobucket

Security was even tighter at the Large Aircraft Area. Most of the aircraft on display here belong to the US Air Force.

Image hosting by Photobucket

The American Air Force team looks totally cool. They are tall, well-built and looks totally cool. Many of the visitors just grab them aside for quick photo moments.

Image hosting by Photobucket

Most of the military jets are like a second home to the pilots. So they are highly personalised, like The High Life below:

Image hosting by Photobucket

Thereafter we are back to the Exhibition halls and the private jet areas. Most of the private jets are still around and even fewer have sales executives next to them. They are dressed in suit and tie and have to stand under the blazing hot sun. I guess it is a good choice to relocate to Hong Kong given the hot equatorial weather of Singapore.

Image hosting by Photobucket

We dive into the exhibtion halls. A number of the exhibition booths were closed as they were opened mostly for trade visitors. Those that are opened have exhibitors just lazing around, entertaining the visitors to the fair.

Image hosting by Photobucket

We moved on to the next hall. The main highlights of this year exhibition seems to be unmanned technology and military simulation.

Image hosting by Photobucket

Many of the sales staffs look pretty bored.

Image hosting by Photobucket

And finally at the end of the day when we left the Changi Expo, we took a walk next to beautiful Changi beach.

Image hosting by Photobucket

The wind is pretty strong that day and we decided to just take a seat at the beach just to enjoy the breeze, as well as resting the tired legs.

Image hosting by Photobucket

I noticed this very fascinating mixture of colours from one of the tree and decided to take a photo of it. Feels like beautiful autumn.

Image hosting by Photobucket