August 2011 Issue MICA(P) 027/09/2011 Since 1971 RSAF OPEN HOUSE 2011 SYFC PPL Wings and Aviation Awards Ceremony F-16 Familiarisation Flight Visiting RSAF Flying Training School 04 06 07 Singapore National Aeromodelling Championship 2011 10 Young Artists Contest 11 National Day 2011 Celebrations 12
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Foreword The Singapore Youth Flying Club (SYFC) is very pleased to participate actively in the RSAF Open House (ROH) 2011 held from 26 to 29 May 11 at Paya Lebar Air Base. It is the first time that the Club had the opportunity to showcase our new generation trainer Diamond DA 40 aircraft to the general public with a flypast in Diamond Formation in the aerial display, and to offer many joyride flights to parents and youths to experience the thrill and excitement of flying. Our participation in the ROH has enabled the Club to reach out to many more youths in our community on the flight training programmes offered by SYFC, and to interest them in taking up flying as a career. Students participating in our Private Pilot Licence (PPL) programme not only get to experience the thrill of flying the DA 40s equipped with modern avionics, they can also look forward to getting fun rides on RSAF s aircraft such as the F-16s, PC-21s, Chinook helicopters, C-130s and F-50s. The parttime flying programme conducted by SYFC will enable young Singaporeans to experience the excitement of flying an aircraft on his own and to obtain the PPL before the completion of his/her studies in the Junior Colleges or Polytechnics. Contents Aviator 02 RSAF Open House 2011 04 SYFC PPL Wings and Aviation Awards Ceremony 06 F16- Familiarisation Flight RAF Veterans visit SYFC 07 Visiting RSAF Flying Training School 08 Welcome New Pilot Trainees 183BFC 184BFC 185BFC 09 My First Solo Flight aeromodelling 10 Singapore National Aeromodelling Championship 2011 Community Service 11 SYFC Aviators Programmes Young Artists Contest 12 National Day 2011 Celebrations Explore the Frontier of Aviation Elective Programme Recruitment publicity others 13 Breitling - A new High For Jetman Spot the Planes Contest SYFC aims to provide a strong foundation to youths who are keen on pursuing a career in flying. The Club will not only impart flying skills and knowledge to the students, but also develop their leadership and communication skills. We hope to see more youths participate in our flying programme and benefit from the experiences in SYFC. COL (VOL) Andy Tan General Manager Singapore Youth Flying Club August 2011 Editorial Committee Advisor : COL (VOL) Andy Tan, General Manager Editors : Ms Lucy Chua, Administrative Manager Mr Jason Ong, Assistant Editor Members : Mr S Beber, CCA Manager Ms Cherie Ng, President SYFC PPL Alumni Committee Mr Preetwant Singh, Ground School Instructor Take Off is the official newsletter of the Singapore Youth Flying Club. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, the Editor, the Club and its Committee cannot accept liability for any damage, personal or material, arising whether directly or indirectly from any matter published in this newsletter. Views or opinions expressed here are entirely the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Club or members of the Editorial Committee. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the Singapore Youth Flying Club. Copyright 2001 by Singapore Youth Flying Club. All rights reserved. Singapore Youth Flying Club 515 West Camp Road, Singapore 797695. Tel: 6483 5621 Website: www.syfc.sg Email: info@syfc.sg Designed by Equity Communications Pte Ltd. Printed by Hock Cheong Printing Pte Ltd.
02 AVIATOR / SYFC newsletter / AUGUST 11 RSAF OPEN Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence at the opening of RSAF Open House 2011 Another one for the family album RADM Ng Chee Peng, Chief of Navy with GM SYFC Crowd in the exhibition hall Diamond formation flight Ensuring a safe joyride Shiny enough for the show Having a break between flights Our helpful volunteers Young enthusiasts Visitors going for the Chinook joyride Staff answering enquiries
AUGUST 11 / SYFC newsletter / AVIATOR 03 HOUSE 2011 SYFC s student pilots posing with F15s aircrew Hmmm, this is comfortable Ops relocated to PLAB Full concentration on his simulation game Another one for the family album Former SYFC students visiting the show F15s & F16s in formation COL (VOL) Andy Tan with his son John-David Diamond formation flight This small aircraft is excellent Engrossed in simulation flying
04 AVIATOR / SYFC newsletter / AUGUST 11 I am very pleased to be here today to celebrate the achievements of the 23 students who have attained the Private Pilot License (PPL). The PPL course is an exciting journey that many students have attempted, but only a handful succeed. Let me commend each one of you for your hard work, perseverance and commitment in fulfilling the demands of the PPL programme. The attainment of the PPL is a strong testimony of your flying ability, possibly heralding the beginning of an exciting and fulfilling flying career for the graduand. Assoc Prof Koo Tsai Kee, Minister of State for Defence 7 May 2011
AUGUST 11 / SYFC newsletter / AVIATOR 05 SYFC Best in Flying Lee Xi Ping, Cjc SYFC Best in Ground School Wang Andai, HcI LIST OF PPL RECIPIENTS Tan Ming Wei Jeremy Acs(I) Acs(I) Lee Tong Sheng Cjc Chua Chu Kang Sec Kwan Hong Min Cjc Mayflower Sec Lee Xi Ping Cjc Whitley Sec Wang Andai Hci Hwa Chong Institution Zhang Yuwei Rayson Njc Commonwealth Sec Ng Si Ying Njc Nan Hua High Chan Wei Jie Colin Np Serangoon Sec Mohamad Faisal Bin Mohamad Aziz Np Hillgrove Sec Lim Jia Sheng Joshua Np St Andrew's Sec Tan Tian Hao Terance Np Xinmin Sec Koh You Jia Np Woodlands Ring Sec Tan Jun Guan Np Bt Panjang Govt High Koh Wei Liang Janzen Pjc Dulwich College Pan Shang Hua Ri Raffles Institution Lee Wei Benjamin Ri Raffles Institution Dinesh Christopher Rajendram Rjc Acs(I) Wong Jun Long Glenn Rjc Raffles Institution Low Jian Xiong Leonard Rjc St Joseph's Institution Wong Wen Yu Nigel Sajc St Andrew's Sec Phan Jun Wen Hector Sp Catholic High Soh Wei Tong Daniel Srjc Serangoon Sec Yeo Yuan Bo Alvin Tp Dunman Sec Wang Weiheng Tp Maris Stella High Koh Jia Ming Benjamin Tp St Hilda's Sec Pung Junxiang Daryl Tp St Andrew's Sec Hou Boyi Eugene Tpjc Zhonghua Sec Foo Ren Yu Graci Vjc Anglican High Low Wei Yang Julian Vjc Anglican High Leow Ewing Keith Yjc Acs(Barker) Lee Xi Ping Cjc Whitley Sec Wang Andai Hci Hwa Chong Institution Official Opening of the SYFC s Youth Aviation Gallery Skylark 71 by Assoc Prof Koo Tsai Kee, Minister of State for Defence
06 AVIATOR / SYFC newsletter / AUGUST 11 F-16 Jun Hao Familiarisation Flight We are indeed very fortunate to have the opportunity to go on a familiarisation flight on the F-16 with courtesy of 143 Squadron. The experience was exhilarating, enriching and inspiring. When we took off with afterburners, we were pushed right into the seat. At that point, we knew this was not going to be any ordinary flight we were on the F16s! The air exercise was an eye-opener for us as we had the chance to experience dogfights, lowlevel flying, and, of course, 6.5Gs! It was like no other feeling we felt before. We even had the chance to go supersonic! It was absolutely fulfilling. Leon Lee The mere thought of sitting in an airborne F-16 stirs up a lot of vivacity but it had always seemed a distant dream until 21 Jun 2011. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience as the afterburners came on. From then on adrenaline was pumping through various air exercises - dog fights, low-level high-speed flight and aerobatics, we were literally blown away. It could not have gotten better when we hit supersonic and we did 6.5g turns! Thank you, 143 SQN, for giving us the wonderful opportunity. RAF Veterans visit SYFC SYFC played host to 70 British veterans who visited us on 24 Mar 2011. This was a biannual affair where British soldiers who once worked at Seletar Air Base came back to walk down memory lane.
AUGUST 11 / SYFC newsletter / AVIATOR 07 Visiting RSAF Flying Training School The nine of us looked forward very much to 13 Jul 2011. On that day, we set off for the RSAF Flying Training School at RAAF Base Pearce, Western Australia. This one-week visit hosted by the RSAF was beneficial and memorable for us. We saw for ourselves the daily activities the cadets go through. Besides flying, they have to plan their own flying programmes and conduct operations brief for the whole squadron every morning. It takes a lot to prepare and to present the brief confidently before the students and instructors. All of us managed to get a joyride on the PC-21. It was definitely a thrill to fly in it. During the sortie, we went to their training area which was much larger than our Alpha, Bravo and Charlie training areas. There we managed to pull some Gs and at the same time experience the aircraft s full capabilities. Besides the hectic pace of training, the cadets had lots of fun too. We were invited to 130 Squadron Mess where we saw how the trainees let their hair down, lighten up and enjoy the company of their instructors. Over the week, our experiences and interactions with the cadets gave us a clearer picture of what it is like to be a pilot trainee in RSAF. It has mentally prepared us for the training we will face in the future. We are thankful to the RSAF and SYFC for giving us this invaluable opportunity, and to Mr Chee PS for taking good care of us and making the visit pleasant and memorable.
08 AVIATOR / SYFC newsletter / AUGUST 11 WELCOME New Pilot Trainees! 183BFC 184BFC 185BFC
AUGUST 11 / SYFC newsletter / AVIATOR 09 My First Solo Flight A truly amazing experience that one must experience for himself to know what it is like to fly the first solo in an airplane. Tariq bin Idil Adzha, 180BFC The most memorable thing about flying the first solo is when you clean up the aircraft after takeoff; it is then that the realisation sets in that you are now completely on your own, and it is up to you to get the plane back on the ground safely. Being able to do so at the end of the circuit definitely will be one of the fondest memories a person can reflect upon. Woo BZ, 178BFC The feeling of being alone in the aircraft was awkward at first, but I got used to it soon after. Before I knew it, I was already up in the air by myself. I have to say that that was one of the greatest moments of my life. The solo flight ended with a smooth landing, followed by taxiing back and shutting down the aircraft. I want to thank my instructors for their help in teaching me the essence of flying. Kenneth Chen Sy, 178BFC My feeling so far has been good. The experience I ve had has just been amazing. Just being able to fly has been so enjoyable. Before, I ve had problems with my landings but with the encouragement of my instructor, Mr Siva, I was able to perfect my landings and finally for first solo. It was one of the exciting moments. Throughout the flight, I was smiling because I realised that I have made it this far. Now, of course, I m aiming for my next goal: PPL! Ryan Lim, 178BFC
10 AEROMODELLING / SYFC newsletter / AUGUST 11 Singapore National Aeromodelling Championship 2011 SYFC organised and conducted the Control Line Team racing and In-Door Radio Control events for the Aeromodelling Federation of Singapore. The Singapore National Aeromodelling Championship 2011 was held from 18 to 26 Jun 2011. Hillgrove and Evergreen YFCs emerged as the winners in the In-Door Radio Pylon Racing and Control Line Electric Team Racing events respectively. The overall results for the events conducted by SYFC are: C/L Open Class A Rat Race Event \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 1 st David Su / Richard Ong - SYFC 2 nd Wong Jie Wei / Lim Jin Heng - SYFC 3 rd Paul Liew / Serbert Fong - SYFC C/L Open Electric Powered Rat Race Event \\\ 1 st Chew Bao Sheng - EGSS 2 nd Chen Yuning - EGSS 3 rd Desmond Soh - EGSS C/L FAI F2C Team Race Event \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 1 st Wong Jei Wei / Lim Jin Heng - SYFC 2 nd David Su / Richard Ong - SYFC 3 rd Paul Liew / Serbert Fong - SYFC Radio Control Fixed Wing In-Door Pylon Racing Event \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 1 st Chua Cheng Wei - HGSS 2 nd Goh Zong Yuan - HGSS 3 rd Loh Han Yang - HGSS Community Service As part of our service to the community, SYFC staff brought a total of 40 students from the MINDS Fernvale Gardens School for an Aviation Enrichment outing to the RSAF Museum on 12 and 13 May 2011 to introduce them to the field of aviation. The staff and students found the outing very enriching especially seeing the different aircraft and understanding how aeroplanes fly.
AUGUST 11 / SYFC newsletter / AEROMODELLING 11 SYFC Aviators Programmes To enhance the interest of our youth in aviation, several SYFC Aviators Programmes were conducted. 6 students from ACS(I) participated in the programme on 29 Jul 2011. Ms Ivy Goh, the teacher in charge of the group commented, The students were very proud being involved in the programme as it gave them a better understanding of aviation and has a direct application to their studies in physics on fluid motion. I am looking forward to sending another group of students next year for this programme. 19 students from SJI participated in the programme from 23 to 28 Jul 2011. Raphael Teo shared, The programme gave me a better understanding of the defence of Singapore and the flight simulator flying was very good in helping us understand how aeroplanes fly. I am eagerly waiting to sign up for the BFC. 6 NCC(Land) cadets from RI and 2 NCC(Air) cadets from Chung Cheng High (Yishun) participated in the programme on 24 Jun and 23 Jul 2011 respectively. Kelvin Oh from Chung Cheng commented, The flight was an eye-opener to see how small Singapore is and the view from the air was just exhilarating. I am looking forward to taking up flying with SYFC and have a career as a RSAF fighter pilot. Young Artists Contest 2011 SYFC conducted the first Young Artists Contest in April 2011. The purpose is to hone the skill of youngsters between the ages of 6 to 17 in poster drawing related to aviation. The best 3 drawings were submitted to participate in the international art contest for youngsters organised by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale - FAI (The World Air Sports Federation). Linked to the 50 th anniversary of Gagarin s historic flight, the theme for 2011 was 50 Years of Human Space Flight. Selena Chua from Compassvale Primary School, Peh Jun Siang and Lim Pu Sheng both from Bedok Green Secondary School emerged as the winners in the respective age categories.
12 AEROMODELLING / SYFC newsletter / AUGUST 11 National Day 2011 Celebrations Hwa Chong Institution Youth Flying Club students were honoured to give a flying demonstration to the school as part of their 2011 National Day Celebrations. Lee Cheok Hon (Sec 4) and Shawn Wong (Sec 2) students gave an impressive control-line flying demonstration. Cheok Hon commented, I initially felt a bit nervous but once the aeroplane started, I felt very proud being able to give a good flying demonstration to the students. I thank Mr Philip Wong for taking time off to help us prepare for the flying demonstration. Explore the Frontier of Aviation Elective Programme The Elective Programme conducted for the first time for 24 IP1 students from Victoria Junior College was held from 10 Feb to 28 Apr 2011. Lemuel Lok shared, I felt the course was an eye-opener in the field of aviation. The flight was awesome in the DA40 aircraft, viewing how small Singapore is from the sky. Students showed strong interest to participate in the flying programme once they ve reached the age of 16. Caleb Yoong commented, The whole programme was very exciting and I will certainly want to sign up for the Basic Flying Course and take up military flying as a career.
AUGUST 11 / SYFC newsletter / recruitment Publicity others 13 Dreams Take Flight Yves Jetman Rossy completes his first successful flight in the U.S. with his momentous flight through Grand Canyon West. Equipped with his jet-propelled wing attached to his back, he controls steering only by movement of his body. Rossy launched from a helicopter at 8,000 feet into the breathtaking arms of the Grand Canyon sky. Accelerating at speeds of up to 190 mph, Jetman sustained flight for more than eight minutes, 200 feet above the rim of Grand Canyon West. As a grand finale to this flawless precision flight, Rossy deployed his parachute and gracefully descended to the canyon floor. With accolades from his successful jet-powered flights across Lake Geneva and the English Channel, he realises his dream of flying through the Grand Canyon. My first flight in the U.S. is sure to be one of the most memorable experiences in my life, not only for the sheer beauty of the Grand Canyon but the honour to fly in sacred Native American lands. Thank you Mother Nature and the Hualapai Tribe for making my lifelong dreams come true, Rossy fondly remarked. SPOT the PLANES CONTEST Prizes: 10 book vouchers worth $20 each. A B C D Please name the aircraft: a. b. c. d. Please submit a photocopy of this completed form to the CCA Manager, SYFC, 515 West Camp Road, Singapore 797695 by 15 Oct 2011. Contest is open to students in Primary and Secondary schools. One entry per student. The decision for winners by SYFC is final. Results will be published in the next newsletter. Name & NRIC No: School: Class: Address: Age: Tel: SPOT the Planes Contest Winners April 2011 1. Chia Song Jun Bedok South Secondary School 2 Faiz Hilman St. Gabriel s Secondary School 3 David Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School 4 Fabian Lim St. Andrew s Secondary School 5 Tan Lim Ming En Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) 6 Benjamin Lim Jun Hong Serangoon Secondary School 7 Justin Tan Xinmin Secondary School 8. Ameerban Bin Aman East Spring Secondary School 9. Darren Png St. Andrew s Secondary School 10. Adel Tan St. Andrew s Secondary School For more information please visit SYFC website at www.syfc.sg now!