Chance for 30 ST readers to fly in Chinook copter

Singapore Airshow treat for winners of Star contest

Visitors to the air force Open House over the weekend will get to experience Singapore's air defence power upclose, including a chance to ride on aircraft such as the CH-47 Chinook helicopter. Thirty lucky readers will get a rare opportunity to take
Visitors to the air force Open House over the weekend will get to experience Singapore's air defence power upclose, including a chance to ride on aircraft such as the CH-47 Chinook helicopter. Thirty lucky readers will get a rare opportunity to take a ride in a Chinook CH-47 military helicopter at the Singapore Airshow next month. -- ST FILE PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM

Thirty lucky readers will get a rare opportunity to take a ride in a Chinook CH-47 military helicopter at the Singapore Airshow next month.

Winners of a Straits Times Appreciates Readers (Star) contest, in a tie-up with the event organiser, will also get four tickets each to the event.

The fourth edition of the Singapore Airshow, which is held every two years, will take place from Feb 11 to 16 at Changi Exhibition Centre, near the airport.

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The first four days are reserved for trade visitors. Members of the public can visit on Saturday and Sunday.

The 20- to 30-minute Chinook flight will be organised at Changi Airbase on Saturday, the first day the show opens to the public.

Other highlights this year include aerobatic flying displays from the Black Knights of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), which is marking its 45th anniversary this year.

Black Eagles, the display team of the Republic of Korea Air Force, will mark its South-east Asia debut at the Singapore show.

Pilots will fly the T-50 aircraft, a supersonic jet created by Korea Aerospace Industries.

More than 70 commercial and military planes, including the Airbus 350, which has not entered into commercial service, will be on static display. Big names in the business jet market like Bombardier, Cessna, Embraer and Gulfstream will also showcase their sleek flying machines.

At the RSAF pavilion, visitors can expect fun activities like aviation-themed games.

Touted to be one of the top three airshows in the world, after France's Le Bourget and Britain's Farnborough, the Singapore event drew more than 90,000 public visitors when it was last held in 2012.

Mr Jimmy Lau, managing director of organiser Experia Events, said his team is delighted to work with The Straits Times.

Straits Times deputy editor Zuraidah Ibrahim said: "Human flight is more than a century old, but the thrill never seems to wane. The Straits Times reported the very first plane to land in Singapore and today's readers still look forward to seeing the latest machines."

Airshow tickets are on sale at Sistic at $22 for an adult and $9 for children between the ages of three and 12. Sistic also charges a booking fee of $3 for each adult ticket and $1 for each child.

karam@sph.com.sg

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