aviation - the past, present and future of flight

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)

has painted two of its Boeing F-15SG

Eagles in a unique scheme as part of the

RSAF50 commemorations – the year-long

celebrations to mark its golden jubilee in

2018.

The fuselages, wings and tails of

the specially marked Paya Lebar-based

F-15SGs sport a blue livery, the tone of

which was derived from that of the nation’s

state colour. The F-15s' upper sides and

part of the tails feature the RSAF50 logo –

the numerical ‘50’ over the Singapore city

skyline. The tails also carry the three RSAF

roundels that have been used over the five

decades.

Singapore President Halimah Yacob

unveiled the scheme during February’s

Singapore Airshow and one of the jets

participated in an integrated aerial display

with two F-16C Fighting Falcons. The

F-15SGs – serial numbers 8335 and 8338

• will also take part in various RSAF events
  throughout the year. Roy Choo

The first pair of T-50THs for the Royal Thai

Air Force was delivered to Takhli Air Base in

central Thailand on January 25, following a

protracted 4,137-mile (6,658km) ferry flight

from South Korea. The two, serials 40101

and 40102, are part of an initial order for

four, for which Thailand signed a $110m

contract on September 2015. Another eight

examples were ordered in July last year in a

deal valued at $260m.

The initial aircraft departed from the

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) factory

airfield at Sacheon, South Korea, on January

8, a day later than planned, after having

been held up by bad weather. The aircraft

made a first technical stop at Kaohsiung

International Airport in Taiwan, followed by

Clark Air Base in the Philippines, before

heading to Kuantan air base in Malaysia.

The jets were then delayed at Kuantan for

two weeks – they had flown through severe

weather while inbound to Kuantan and

post-flight inspections revealed the need for

repairs.

The maiden flight of the T-50TH (40101)

for the RTAF took place on August 10

last year at Sacheon. Once the type is in

service, it is expected to replace the Aero

L-39ZA Albatros with 401 Squadron.

Cameroon Receives ISR Cessnas

Two highly modified Cessna 208B Grand

Caravan intelligence surveillance and

reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft have been

delivered to the Cameroon Air Force.

The pair, wearing the temporary US civil

registrations N337ZZ and N339ZZ, were

noted at Gran Canaria Airport, in the

Canary Islands, Spain, on January 12.

Their serials and national markings were

taped over for the delivery flight.

The aircraft are likely part of a May 2016

contract awarded to L-3 Communications

Corporation – Communication Systems West

and North American Surveillance Systems

(NASS) for the supply and conversion of an

unknown number of Grand Caravans into

ISR platforms for four foreign military sales

customers, including Cameroon. L-3 was

to supply the ISR equipment, while NASS

performed installation. Contract completion

was expected by September 30, 2019.

http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 7

Special Marks for

Singapore Eagles

T-50THs Arrive in Thailand

RSAF F-15SG Eagle 8338

displaying at the Singapore

Airshow in its special livery.

Key-Craig West

T-50TH 40101 departing Taiwan’s Kaohsiung International Airport after a technical stop. Peter Ho

Canada

Reveals

Fighter Plan

At a recent industry day for its Future Fighter

Capability Project (FFCP) in Ottawa, the

Canadian government revealed that, under

current plans, the last Royal Canadian Air

Force (RCAF) CF-188 Hornets will be retired

in 2032.

The service intends to acquire 88 new

fighters, with the release of a request for

proposals in spring 2019, and a contract

award is expected in 2021/22. Delivery of the

first is planned for 2025 with full operational

capability following sometime after 2031.

Requirements for the FFCP say the

aircraft must be in production and capable

of sustaining supersonic speed in level

flight, air-to-air refuelling and carrying and

employing air-to-air and air-to-surface

weapons.

Although the RCAF plans to keep its

Hornets viable until 2025, it’s not clear what

will be required to keep them in the air until

the final retirements in 2032.

The 88 new fighters are expected to cost

as much as $12.2 to $15.4bn.

Representatives from some 180

interested Canadian and international

companies and governments attended the

industry day. Tom Kaminski

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