0900 hours
I saw crowds in the bicycle area around Pasir Ris MRT Station while opening the door to leave the house. Felt something wasn't right.
0905 hours
My feeling was confirmed. The crowds were queueing for the shuttle bus to the venue. I went to buy battery for camera and some bread for breakfast first.
0915 hours
Started joining the queue from the bus interchange area, but luckily 'twas well organized as the queue lines were properly in place and people duly queued. One sausage bread was fully consumed while queueing.
0930 hours
Finally got to the end of the queue. The staffs were armed with portable barcode scanners and the eTicket was scanned before boarding the shuttle bus. I sat at the second row seat from the front. Not bad, eh?
0945 hours
Arrived at the venue, and more queue to enter the building.
0955 hours
Entered the building, got lost, and didn't know which way to go. I just followed the people in front of me. More queue for security checking just like in the airport.
1005 hours
Left the building and walked to the exhibition area. First things to see were some tanks and Apache chopper in the middle. My God, wasn't she beautiful!
1015 hours
Done admiring Apache. Next target was F35-Lightning II placed beside the Lockheed Martin chalet. Couldn't touch her with those fences around. I wondered if F22-Raptor was as cute as her.
1025 hours
People was surely crowding near the F35, so I wasn't surprised when RQ-4 Global Hawk didn't attract many people. This unmanned bird really looked odd, maybe it was designed for stealth purpose. I couldn't help but thinking of those facehuggers that Ripley blasted to death while taking pictures of the Hawk.
1032 hours
Next stop, RSAF's Chinook and F-16. No contest on which ones attracted more amateur photographers. The Falcon was really sleek, no wonder some christened it as fighter jet with the best design. Even with all the Sidewinders and missiles hanging on the wings, she still looked hot.
1045 hours
The next area belonged to USAF with 2 Hercules, 1 F-15, 1 F-18, 1 F-16 (single seater), and 1 B1-B Lancer. Definitely the best area to hang around. Not because of the pilots, but because of those steel babies. I know the Fighting Falcon was hot, but for me the Strike Eagle, and especially the Super Hornet were the bombs! The Lancer was just sitting in the middle coolly, but his presence alone was enough to let people know who's the Big Daddy there. I felt 90% of the kids here would go home and want to become a fighter jet pilot. The other 10% were happy enough to just buy the jet models because they sucked at Math and Science.
1107 hours
Was thinking of joining the queue at Wall's Ice Cream. A touch at my waistline suddenly brought me back to reality.
1108 hours
Approaching Airbus A380. I wondered if the other planes are mocking her at night for being that fat. I think F-16 would be the meanest mocker of them all.
1120 hours
Entering the Feature Pavillion. The first booth was selling plane models, toys, t-shirts, and fighter jet DVDs. Bought 1 Red Arrows DVD for $29. Wanted to get the F-16, F-15, and F-18 models too, but balked at its $23.90 a piece price. Normally it was sold only for $19.
1125 hours
Walking around the Pavillion looking for some freebies. Some kids got pins from the Bahrain Airport booth, but they didn't seem interested in giving me one. They had dates in their booth, though. Moved on and saw the Segway booth. Thinking to try it, but afraid I'd make a fool of myself (as usual). "Don't be afraid. You won't fall." overheard the staff telling the guy who's trying it. Yeah, right. Got my first booty finally; a pin and lousy cap from Changi Airport booth.
1140 hours
Moved on to the Main Hall. Didn't know where to go or what to see, just wanted to enjoy the aircon. Some of the booths were closed as they didn't expect some uncles from Toa Payoh would come and buy their defense missile today. Smart guy. The Israel booth seemed to give away free bags as seeing many people had it. Eventually arrived at the main door, and saw ST Engineering generously gave away something black in plastic. I got one, and saw an aunty already opened and used it. It was a bag, so I went back and asked for another one. Why did I become this kiasu? Must be something in the water here.
1210 hours
Already standing in front of the main door, waiting for the aerobatic shows to start. It was scheduled at 12.15 by the way. Took out my second & final bread because got sleepy listening to the emcees.
1225 hours
The Black Knights finally arrived using Foo Fighters' Learn To Fly. Good choice. They seemed to be pretty good. Emcee said that they'd be signing autographs at 2.30 PM. Wondered if some of them would end up at eBay, and if someone would actually buy it.
1245 hours
It's the Super Hornet's turn. The pilot was doing it solo, and the Super Hornet looked like the older sister with attitude. I liked her better than the Fighting Falcon.
1255-1305 hours
The Alenia Aermacchi and Korea's T-50 turn. Both looked to have similar model. Not so special. Then, it's F-15's turn. Quite bored here and people watching instead.
1306 hours
The Fat Mama A380 arrived. Of course, she didn't do any backflip like the Falcons or Hornet. She just flew here, flew there. Tilt here, tilt there, and gone. It's like watching Dumbo, if ya know what I mean.
1311-1330 hours
The Roulettes are here! The best show of the day, me thinks. They had more stunts than the Black Knights, and because their planes were slower, we could enjoy it more. Not sure if the crowds liked it as they surely would root for the Home team. Go Roulettes!
1332 hours
Going back to the Main Hall to see the rest of the booths. No more aerobatics. Just wandered around, grabbed one more bag from ST Engineering and then remembered about wanting to go to Jane's booth. Walked past Etihad's booth, and they too had dates ready on the plates. People definitely flocked there to ask one question while grabbing 3 dates at the same time. Once question answered, they'd leave the booth. But not before grabbing more dates.
1335 hours
Saw Aviation Week booth. Got 2 free magazines. Yay!
1340 hours
Saw long queues at Boeing booth. Wondered what it was about; turned out people queued for fighter jet poster cum calendar in a Boeing plastic bag. Common sense prevailed and decided not to join the queue.
1345 hours
Finally found Jane's booth, but it was closed and people from the booth across sitting on Jane's couch. Grabbed 1 copy of Jane's Defense Weekly. Mission accomplished.
1350 hours
Left the Main Hall, and walking towards the Exit. Finally felt hungry.
1405 hours
Saw lots of people already queueing for the shuttle bus back. Didn't look good.
1415 hours
Arriving at the queue place. Not organized as no clear place to wait for the bus. People directly swarmed any bus coming in, no queue at all. No police were around to sort things out.
1425 hours
The cops were here and spent some time discussing on how to best arrange the situation, while more and more people were swarming any incoming buses. Didn't look good at all.
1436 hours
The cops starting putting out some Police Line for the queue. The sun was burning hot, people were sweaty and stank, and tempers started to flare. The queue, if there's one, didn't move as the cops were still arranging the way.
1450 hours
Finally some kind of queue were forming albeit in 6-7 lines. At least people were getting closer & closer to the end of the queue. One Malay aunty provided free entertainment for us through her slanging match with one of the cops. Some people just can't keep their mouth shut. Can't blame the cop if he decides to start hitting her with the baton.
1540 hours
Was finally on board the shuttle bus and arriving back at Pasir Ris station at 1550 hours. Bought teh peng from Banquet on the way home. Gila, segerr banget!
1610 hours
Home sweet home. The legs were screaming in pain, and cold shower seemed like a Holy Grail at this point.
1615 hours
Noticing that my neck & face were sunburnt. All parts not covered by my t-shirt were darker than the others. Man, this is bad!
1630 hours
Thank God for cold shower. All's done...typing this while waiting for the Wife to wake up for sushi dinner. Looking forward to the next show in 2-year time with the sunblock on, definitely.
More photos.
