< PreviousKiwiFlyer Magazine Issue 56 40 NZ Air Surveillance contributed by Chris Gee After more than half a century of service to the nation, time is finally running out for the RNZAF’s Lockheed P3 Orions. New Zealand’s Ministry of Defence is in the process of choosing a replacement through the Future Air Surveillance Capability (FASC) programme, which aims to ensure that ‘no less than an equivalent level of capability matched to current and future needs’ is in place by 2025, when the Orions will have retired after sixty-four(!) years of operation. Regular KiwiFlyer contributor Chris Gee caught up with a possible contender for the role whilst at the 2018 Singapore Airshow and sees several reasons to rate the Saab ‘Swordfish’ very highly on the preference list. Chris explains: An option for Orion replacement The departure of the P-3K2 Orions will leave big shoes to fill. There are the obvious matters of our vast maritime patrol areas and the reliance New Zealand’s economy has on oceanic trade. Then the ‘future needs’ aspect adds complexity given uncertainty surrounding the effects of climate change and the likelihood of increasingly frequent humanitarian, economic and ecological crises throughout the Asia-Pacific region. This and more must all be considered alongside our comparatively low defence budget. Given the platform NZDF runs with for the FASC requirement must endure for perhaps fifty years, making the right choice is of the utmost importance to the nation. Could the Saab ‘Swordfish’ replace our Orions? There are six contenders known to have submitted proposals for the FASC requirement: Boeing, with the P-8 Poseidon, a 737 derivative; Airbus, with the C295 and possibly an A320neo derivative; Leonardo, with a version of their C-27J Spartan or ATR-72MP; Embraer, with a combination of missionised KC390 airlifters and or E190-E2s; Kawasaki with its P1; and Saab, with its Swordfish system which is integrated onto the Bombardier Global 6000 airframe. All of these companies were at the 2018 Singapore Airshow and Aerospace Expo. Our Ministry of Defence’s options include: choosing a one-for-one replacement of our six P-3s with high-tier airframes; an increased number of low-tier airframes; or a two-tier approach with a small number of high-tier aircraft backed up by additional low-tier airframes. An early favourite The Boeing P-8 Poseidon has been widely considered as the front runner in the competition, with this capable (and expensive) aircraft used by our major defence partners the United States and Australia. The armed forces of the UK, Norway and India have also ordered the type. The US Government has already given the nod for New Zealand to purchase four P-8s through their Foreign Military Sale programme, complete with systems and support, at a total cost of NZ$1.91 billion. However; the P-8’s increased Maximum Take-Off Weight and size means it cannot operate with 41 2018 #1 KEEP YOUR BUSINESS FLYING Maximise airframe protection l Optimise fuel burn a full fuel load from Whenuapai Airbase in Auckland without major infrastructure investments. Additionally, the combination of training, maintenance and overseas deployment will mean that procuring only four airframes could leave extended periods with no ‘on-demand’ capability for urgent domestic needs. There is talk of entering an ‘airframe sharing’ pool with the RAAF and their P-8s, but our operational needs may not always align. In any case, RAAF and USN P-8 aircrews at the Singapore Airshow were also quick to point out that interoperability comes not via the aircraft itself, but through tactics, communications, datalinks, and combined op’s training. Enter the Swordfish Saab’s ‘Swordfish’ proposal circumvents these problems. The Bombardier G6000 is an excellent special mission platform, chosen by Saab for its ultra-long range, patrol speed envelope, large cabin, power and growth potential. It is a mature aircraft with 600 examples having been built worldwide (including its G5000 sibling). Saab’s GlobalEye AEW solution, also using a G6000 and systems commonality to the Swordfish, is set to make its first flight for the UAE by the end of March. The G6000 has also been used as the platform for the RAF’s R1 Sentinel ASaC aircraft, and the USAF’s E-11A ELINT aircraft. Saab has a history of successfully integrating its systems into third-party airframes, with its Erieye AEW system in service with ten nations. Saab’s Swordfish proposal enables a larger amount of high-tier airframes at lower purchase (around two thirds) and operating (around half) costs than the P-8 offering. Saab’s aircraft also fits within the RNZAF’s existing infrastructure. By comparison, the Australians are spending upwards of NZ$700 million upgrading RAAF Edinburgh to accommodate their new P-8s (about the cost of two entire Swordfish aircraft). As well, Saab state that the RNZAF could operate 6-7 Swordfish for the price of 4 P-8s, with lower crew and support costs and higher availability making deployments easier and more affordable. Another hurdle for the P-8 is the availability of production slots that match the NZDF’s timeline. Without jumping the queue, Boeing’s backlog of orders threatens to push delivery out to almost a decade. Saab are confident that they can deliver within 36 months of an order being placed. Although the P-8’s MTOW is 85,820kg and the Swordfish is much smaller at 45,132kg, Saab stress that theirs is not a lower- tier solution to the FASC. Five fully-integrated workstations offer a “cutting-edge man-machine-interface and data-fusion with the combat management system”, using a smaller footprint that requires fewer equipment racks and hardware. The Swordfish system utilises ‘Commercial Off The Shelf’ systems wherever possible, lowering risk and reducing support costs. An example is the 360 degree Selex Seaspray 7500E Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar installed in a dorsal fairing. This is capable of simultaneous ‘track-while-scan’ of over a thousand targets. It can detect oil slicks, periscopes and even individuals in the water. Its range is limited by line-of-sight to the horizon, but with the G6000’s cruise altitude of 15,500 m that horizon is far away, with ship-size target detection out to 350 nm. Saab is known for integrating NATO compatible communications suites, and its aircraft would come with state-of- the-art SATCOM, tactical datalink, and all the systems required for interoperability with our allies across the spectrum of land, sea and air operations.KiwiFlyer Magazine Issue 56 42 NZ Air Surveillance Search and Rescue Of course with the NZDF’s area of responsibility covering nearly one fifth of the world’s ocean surface, Search and Rescue capability is of great importance to the FASC requirement. The RNZAF’s P-3K2 Orions have saved hundreds of lives over their time in service. As well as a solution to integrate the NZDF’s requirement for a drop-hatch on the aircraft, Saab has also developed a method of dropping rescue packages through its sonobouy launchers, and can carry four SKAD (Survival Kit Air Droppable) pods externally. The smaller size of the Swordfish offers another SAR advantage; an ability to self-deploy from a wide range of airfields, allowing closer operation to SAR areas with less transit and more loiter time on station. Lower logistics and crew demands are also of course very relevant for the NZDF. Defence More than 150 submarines are expected to be in operation throughout the Asia-Pacific region by 2025. The NZDF’s anti- submarine capability is actually quite crucial, since even the suspected presence of a hostile submarine can close sea lanes to commerce and restrict the NZDF’s ability to deploy sea-borne humanitarian aid. Once an aircraft runs out of sonobuoys however, its mission is essentially over. The Swordfish has a typical payload of 200 sonobuoys, three times the capacity of the legacy P3, and double that of the P-8. The Swordfish uses a gravity (instead of heavy pressurised) launcher, supporting the latest generation of smaller sonobuoys which could allow up to 300 to be carried internally. The greater detection range of the these means that less need to be dropped, all adding up to make the aircraft’s ASW (anti-submarine warfare) endurance greater than other platforms on the market. The Swordfish utilises a ‘Multi-Static Active’ system which allows ships, helicopters and other aircraft to share information from sonobuoys between them. A Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) boom (ten times lighter than legacy systems) is installed, a capability that is not on the P-8. The MAD boom was removed from our P-3s as part of their ‘K2’ upgrade, but that capability has now come back into fashion for use as more than just an ASW tool. Saab’s Electronic Support Measures (ESM) and Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) suites are proven, with new technologies leveraged from the Gripen E fighter and GlobalEye AEW&C programmes meeting Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance demands. The ‘Swordfish’ cabin is equipped with five operator stations, two observer positions, rest area, and storage for up to 300 sonobouys. Owner & Chief Engineer: David Ives Heli Maintenance Ltd, Harewood Aviation Park, 4/25 Aviation Drive, PO Box 39144, Christchurch 8051 03 359 1001 or 027 528 5121 info@helimaintenance.com www.helimaintenance.com Canterbury’s first and only CAA Part 145 approved helicopter maintenance facility We also offer the following local modifications: l Snow Shoes for R44 & MD500 l EC120 Lead Acid Battery Installation l R22/R44 Pitch Links Repair l MD500 Collective Lock l MD500 Hockey Stick Repair R22 / R44 2200 hour Rebuild Kits, 12 year inspections and helicopter refurbishment. Let us provide a quote for your kit and / or rebuild. Hangar 1, Steele Road Phone Paul on 07 843 1200 or 021 743 033 Hamilton Airport Email: paul@centralaero.nz www.centralaero.nz43 2018 #1 On patrol The Swordfish excels on patrol with a max range of 11,112 km, versus the P-8’s at 8,300 km. But in a ‘high - low loiter – high’ mission profile things look even better. In round numbers, the G6000 can travel 1,850 km at a cruise speed of 900 km/h, then loiter for eight hours, whereas the RAAF recently stated that their P-8s can travel 2,200 km at 842 km/h and loiter for four hours on an ASW mission. While the P-8 has greater payload capacity by weight over the Swordfish, with 10,000 kg of ordinance spread across 11 external and internal hard-points, the previous generation of torpedoes it carries must be carried internally otherwise their motors freeze. This is not the case with the Swordfish’s EUROTORP Mu-90 torpedoes, allowing it to currently carry six on external pylons, as well as the RBS- 15 anti-ship missile. The open architecture of the system will allow customising for NZDF needs, including precision strike ordinance should they go down that track - which is a possibility given that currently the P-3 Orion is our sole airborne strike platform aside from the Seasprite helicopter with its Penguin missile. Generational change While the P-8’s 737 lineage is a generation beyond the legacy P-3, the Swordfish represents a new generation again. Its ‘Vision Flight Deck’ features the same Rockwell Collins Pro Line system as our King Airs, offering training compatibility across platforms. The G6000 comes with a system that projects images from a thermal camera in the aircraft’s nose onto the pilots Head-Up- Display, allowing for safer below-minima and in-terrain operations. Indeed, the RAAF P-8 aircrew at the airshow, when asked about the G6000 as a choice for the NZDF, espoused that if the aircraft was chosen their jealousy would “overshadow any sporting rivalry”. Other issues might also help tip the scales towards the Swordfish. Saab have a history of delivering ownership and control of their product to customers. By contrast in the case of the P-8s, each aircraft would be identical to that operated by the USN. Arguably we would be buying an off-the-shelf product with sealed systems designed for someone else, by someone else, and no ability to adapt the platform. India’s ‘P-8I’ purchase that Flight deck incorporates Rockwell Collins Pro LineKiwiFlyer Magazine Issue 56 44 Training now available to meet new PBN/GPS CAA requirements l ll l l A: Woodbourne Airport, Blenheim Ph: 0800 743 432 F K retains its MAD boom and included some local systems was said to be a one-off deal. Saab is promising to deliver a Maritime Patrol Aircraft system that could even be for ‘NZ eyes only’ if required and says that discussions on possible partnerships with a range of Kiwi aerospace and technology companies have already taken place to deliver, sustain and evolve the platform on a long term basis. The NZDF strategy around its FASC solution will by necessity differ from those of our allies. The P-8 was designed to work in tandem with the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C ‘Triton’ Broad Area Maritime Surveillance unmanned aerial vehicles. The Australians are planning on getting seven of these drones (which themselves are almost as big as a 737, have an endurance of 32 hours, and cost NZ$250m each) to operate alongside the twelve P-8s they have on order. This won’t be a capability the NZDF can afford. With Swordfish we would still be fully interoperable with the US and Australian P-8s, but retain the capability and numbers of airframes to serve our independent needs and foreign policy. Additionally, the USN has intended from the beginning to carry out its future ASW missions from high altitude, using a ‘High Altitude Anti- Submarine Warfare Capability’ which is still under development. This is a guided long range glider kit that takes a torpedo dropped from high altitude at a stand-off range, and releases it in the vicinity of a suspected submarine. It is unlikely that the RNZAF will be able to access or afford this technology, and according to various aircrew with ASW experience at the trade expo, the jury is still out as to whether the new generation of stealthy diesel- electric AIP submarines will be detectable from altitude anyway. They added that carrying out ASW operations from high altitude requires wide swathes of airspace to be secured against civilian air traffic for extended periods of time, which can be problematic. Politics The change of government in New Zealand may also give Saab confidence. The three-way coalition between Labour, New Zealand First and the Greens makes the narrative surrounding defence more complicated. Despite NZF’s pro-military Ron Mark taking the Defence portfolio as part of the coalition deal, he may face fierce opposition from his Green colleagues to secure funds. Saab also possibly has on its side its credentials of not currently being active in the nuclear weapons business. If ethical considerations (including public perception) of defence acquisition are a factor, Saab’s proposal may prove more palatable to the coalition Government than that of its competitors. All that said, decisions such as these inevitably involve political machinations of some sort. Perhaps the best solution may indeed yet align with the politics of the day. Chris Gee Hangar 1, Steele Road Phone Paul on 07 843 1200 or 021 743 033 Hamilton Airport Email: paul@centralaero.nz www.centralaero.nz45 2018 #1 Singapore Airshow contributed by Chris Gee The biennial Singapore Airshow, billed as the most significant aerospace trade and airshow in Asia, took place at the Changi Exhibition Centre in Singapore during the week of 6-11 February. Regular KiwiFlyer contributor Chris Gee attended and was very impressed with how much there was to see, including plenty of relevance to aviation in New Zealand. Chris reports: Singapore Airshow highlights Asia-Pacific airline demand increased by 9.4% last year, and the last few years has seen some serious ‘up-gunning’ by armed forces across the region - making the Singapore Airshow trades exhibition a fertile hunting ground for more business in the sector. As well as bringing actual aircraft to the show, many exhibitors employed Virtual Reality systems to showcase their wares, alongside models, full-scale mock-ups, and multi-media presentations. The event schedule was packed with press briefings and seminars. Exciting new technologies were on show, The ultra-manoeuvrable Royal Malaysian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKM stole the show during the air displays. aviation within its society (and the skills to match) than any other nearby population. Talent from here is in demand worldwide, and the quality of NZ pilots and our work ethic in general was echoed to this author repeatedly at the exhibition. Airbus Airbus had a huge presence, highlighted by their very long A350-1000 XWB in the static display. Multiple airlines signed up to the Airbus ‘Skywise’ Predictive Maintenance Service at the event. This collects and analyses ‘big data’ in real-time from subscribers to predict problems and produce maintenance strategies. Airbus launched its ‘Airbus Aerial Asia’ drone business and demonstrated its ‘Skyways UAV’, with which it wants to break into the possibly huge ‘Unmanned Aerial Delivery’ industry. Airbus also announced they are looking at a version of their A320neo as a surveillance and maritime patrol platform, mentioning NZ as an interested customer. Military hardware in abundance. alongside a terrifying array of emerging weaponry, with the global paradigm shift towards unmanned aerial vehicles and precision weapons obvious. All the companies competing for the NZDF’s current acquisition projects to replace our C-130, B757 and P-3K2s were at the show. Boeing, Kawasaki, Embraer, Leonardo, Lockheed, Saab and Airbus all displayed models and brochures of their offerings, with some of the actual airframes, such as the P-8, A400M and G6000, appearing in the static display. Aviation NZ Four New Zealand companies joined forces with AviationNZ to form a NZ branded trade stand. These were ASPEQ, the Air New Zealand Aviation Institute, ATCANZ, and Oceania Aviation. The Asia-Pacific region is the aviation sector’s fastest growing marketplace, and New Zealand’s aviation industry stands to gain much. With around one aircraft per 1000 people, NZ has a far deeper integration of KiwiFlyer Magazine Issue 56 46 Singapore Airshow Boeing Boeing announced $900million in orders for its engineering, maintenance, training and professional services at the event, yet most attention was on their NMA or ‘New Mid-Market Airplane’, a new concept aircraft likely to be called the 797 that offers high passenger capacity with high capability. Boeing and Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Authority signed an agreement to collaborate in big-data analytics for support of Boeing systems across Singapore’s Air Force operations. Embraer Embraer had an E190-E2 prototype in the static display. The hand-painted ‘Tiger’ livery was a nod to their bullish ambitions in the Asia region. Embraer announced one of the few actual new-airframe orders of the airshow in the form of six KC-390 Multi- Mission Tactical Transports to aviation services firm SkyTech who will acquire the aircraft to full NATO specifications then supply them to military customers under lease arrangements, with deliveries starting from 2020 - an interesting confluence of timing and airframe numbers given the RNZAF’s need to replace its five Hercules from 2021. It’s an arrangement that reduces start-up costs and permits upgrading at the end of the lease term. ATR The ATR stand was fawning over Air New Zealand and New Zealand’s attitude to aviation in general. ATR has a long history with ANZ, with the airline in the process of replacing all its previous ATRs with new generation ATR 72-600s by 2020. As an aside, the ATR’s award- winning ‘Armonia’ interior in use globally features NZ sourced leather. ATR also confirmed they are in discussion with Air Chathams about replacing their Convair 540s. ATRs have been successfully converted to Freighter/ Combi versions overseas, and will be one of the only modern and economic types that will be able to operate from the Chatham Islands if the planned runway extension does not go ahead. Bombardier The highlight of Bombardier’s presence was the Air Baltic CS300 in the static display. Bombardier recently partnered with Airbus on the CS300 and announced at the event that integration with Airbus was going to be a top priority for the company, as they look to build an assembly plant together in the USA or Canada. The partnership follows a legal battle and trade dispute that erupted after Boeing succeeded in getting a 300% import tariff applied to any of the Canadian manufacturer’s aircraft sold to US-based carriers, citing government subsidies of Bombardier. Canada cancelled its order for Boeing F/A- 18 Super Hornets over the fracas. Then they reached out to Airbus, who by siding with Bombardier absorbed a possible competitor while also ‘sticking it’ to their opposition. Dassault The French manufacturer Dassault brought its Falcon 8X and Falcon 2000 LXS business jets. These latest generation aircraft sport incredible performance specifications, with the flagship 8X capable of travelling 12,000 km at Mach 0.9, enough for London - Hong Kong direct. The Honeywell Primus Epic ‘EASy’ cockpit avionics resemble something out Star Trek, and takes so much workload off the pilot that their job was anonymously quoted as ‘hardly like a job at all.’ Gulfstream Gulfstream took up much of the static tarmac display with their recently certified G500 and G600 alongside their G650ER, G550 and G280. At their stand the company was profiling their Special Mission derivatives, boasting more than 200 aircraft in service with 40 countries. China Chinese companies displayed an impressive array of technology. In the static display were two Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAV), the Wing Loong I and Wing Loong II. They were shown surrounded by, and loaded with, a formidable array of munitions and weaponry. The proliferation of this kind of technology globally is surely a concern. China has recently flown for the first time the world’s largest amphibious aircraft, the AG600, which drew much attention from the other ASEAN nations since it will undoubtedly be used to service disputed territories in the South China Sea. The most interesting Chinese item on display for New Zealanders, however, was a model of the ‘Star’ AT200 Cargo UAV, which is converted from our very own Pacific Aerospace P750XL aircraft. The company advertises fully automated operations with a 1500 kg payload into Gulfstream line-up in the static display area. Chinese P750XL UAV conversion. Dassault Falcon 8X sophistication. 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The STAR representatives said they buy completed P750s and fly them to China, where they carry out the conversion to an unmanned platform. Singapore Technologies Singapore Technologies Group had an immense presence. The success of Singapore’s rise from developing nation to first-world powerhouse, far exceeding its neighbours’ standard of living and GDP per capita, was obvious at the ST stand. From ultra-modern high-end armoured vehicles and naval shipbuilding, through to advanced sustainable ‘smart-city’ and transport initiatives, leading-edge aerospace and cyber technology, the ST stand was a reminder of the nation’s historically high investment into public education, suggesting it pays off down the line. Republic of Singapore Air Force This year’s event coincided with the 50th Anniversary of the RSAF, who celebrated in loud and exhilarating fashion. A unique demonstration was put together comprising one F-15SG and two F-16C fighter jets. Such an intense, close and flare-heavy display by dissimilar fighter jets was a sight to behold. The three- way ‘opposing cross’ manoeuvre was a highlight, with a vertical formation climb and long simultaneous flare release offering a brilliant finale. The RSAF section of the static display was impressive, with the aircraft loaded to the hilt with ordinance, and all with open cockpits that saw long queues forming as people got selfies taken by RSAF personnel in the aircraft. Despite much prodding by myself, there was no talk from the Singaporeans as to whether their plan to base F-15 or F-16s at Ohakea has progressed any further. Given the limited airspace the Singaporeans have to use in their home nation, much of the RSAF is deployed overseas for training, some of it permanently. Royal Malaysian Air Force The RMAF Sukhoi Su-30MKM stole the show during the air displays. Its thrust- vectored super-manoeuvrability sent it dancing gracefully through the air more like a ballet dancer than an eighteen-tonne fighter-bomber. Whether that ability is operationally useful in the modern context may be contentious, but it is indeed impressive to watch. The aircraft was thrown through flips, tail-slides, falling leaf KiwiFlyer Magazine Issue 56 48 Help to defend and promote General Aviation in New Zealand The General Aviation Advocacy Group of New Zealand (GAA) has no formal membership, no committees and no fees. It’s simply a voluntary social network of more than 2000 pilots, engineers and operators, supporting each other and standing up for GA against red tape, spiralling fees and powerful bureaucrats. You can help to make a difference. Just drop an email to admin@caa.gen.nz or airfabrico@xtra.co.nz www.caa.gen.nz IF YOU ARE SELECTED TO TRAIN WITH US, YOU’LL GET MUCH MORE THAN JUST A PILOT LICENCE. 03 541 9530 admin@helicoptersnelson.co.nz www.helicoptersnelson.co.nz FLIGHT TRAINING PRECISION LIFTING FIRE FIGHTING SURVEY REMOTE OPS CHARTER CONSERVATION FORESTRY SEARCH & RESCUE Dr Anton Wiles & Dr Jon Nelson - ME 1 (New Zealand) - Australia (CASA) - U.K. and Europe (EASA) - AME (Canada) - United States (FAA) - Fiji Your Experienced Aviation Medical Services Team F K impersonations, somersaults and its signature ‘cobra’ manoeuvres all the while dispensing a vast number of flare IR countermeasures. Airbus made good use of a RMAF A400M, corralling a stream of delegates through the aircraft as they attempted to sway more defence ministries towards it, with our NZDF high on that list. Indonesian Air Force The TNI-AU’s Jupiter Display team performed daily formation aerobatic displays in their KAI KT-1B trainers. Their display was a huge hit with the audience on the public days. While we in NZ might be used to seeing this kind of flying, it was obviously new to many people, since you could hear them scream in fright every time the aircraft performed close head-on passes, and the common ‘mirror’ manoeuvre received something of a standing ovation. USAF/USN The USA loomed large this year, with a vast line up of hardware in the static display. A pair of US Marine F-35B Lightening II made their Asian debut, while the USAF brought two F-22 Raptors, an E-3D Sentry AWACS, KC135 tanker, C-17 Globemaster and RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV. The USN had a P-8 Posideon. On Saturday afternoon a USAF B-52 from Guam performed a flyby as part of a non-stop flight. The US Pacific Air Force’s F-16 Demonstration Team performed the same display daily they did at the RNZAF’s Air Tattoo at Ohakea, flown by the same pilot, Major Smeeding, except this time flares were being released at each twist and turn. RAAF The Australians brought their E-7 Wedgetail AWACS and brand new P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to the airshow. The P-8 crews were very forthcoming about how the platform differs from the P-3 Orion it is replacing. Interestingly, there is apparently little commonality in crew training and maintenance between the two platforms, despite them both being based on the 737. The crew train together for 6 months then go their separate ways, with each having separate maintenance regimes. This was a good reminder that commonality is achieved through sharing systems and tactics, not platforms. The Airshow experience The 2018 Singapore Airshow was undoubtedly world-class, offering a staggering array of aircraft. Yet aviation enthusiasts used to the style of airshow we have here in New Zealand might have been slightly disappointed. Operating out of a major airport such as Changi means that flying displays are restricted to just an hour each trade day, with two sets of 45minutes each on the public days. The exhibition centre is off-airport, so the flying displays take place out over the water next to the venue, and occur substantially further away than they do in NZ. Singapore is a very expensive city, and sitting in long queues in a taxi wasn’t cheap. It was unfortunate that the highly anticipated South Korean Black Eagles display team was forced to pull out of the flying display for the entire week. On the first day of the airshow, one of their KAI T-50 Golden Eagle aircraft skidded off the runway on take-off, flipped and caught fire. The pilot walked away with minor injuries, but it was enough to ground the entire team. The runway was closed for several hours, which caused intense travel delays that reverberated across the globe. If you went for the trade expo however, it was a great show. Chris Gee49 2018 #1 Singapore Airshow $690,000 ONLY TWO LEFT SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD SOLD Drones from from top down: Singapore, China, USA.Spectacular show from RSAF F-15SG and two F-16Cs.Bombardier G6000 (top), A350-1000, Falcon 2000LXSNext >