This year’s National Day Parade will be spectacular, in no small part because of the massive showcase of military assets. 50 aircrafts, 8 warships, and 150 vehicles. Massive. The RSAF, in particular, has traditionally always been a big crowd pleaser, and this time around, I think it is already drawing lots of interest in the rehearsals leading up to the NDP itself.
Update (2015-07-20): If you’re here for the timings of the flypast, please check my other post Timings For RSAF SG50 NDP Flypast.
You can’t ignore the excitement after all. 50 aircrafts, flying through our tiny airspace over Singapore. No matter where you are, you will hear them. People are going to watch the skies. Photographers are going to be snapping away with their gear. Are you going to be looking out for the aircrafts too?
Well, here’s the schedule of rehearsals from here on forward. The aerial display is so massive, we’re talking about so many aircrafts in such a small space, they are going to impact other flying activities. Furthermore, you can’t just put 50 aircrafts in the air in a couple of minutes. It takes time to launch them. Then, they need to fly around somewhere while waiting for others to form up. Helicopters can hover, but planes cannot just “hold still”.
So there’s going to be plenty of movements. Massive enough that airspaces need to be shutdown, except for those involved in the aerial display.
| Date | Event | Changi & Seletar | Paya Lebar | Elsewhere |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jul (5 Jul) |
Combined Rehearsal (Reserve) |
1825-1910 | 1730-1900 | 1730-1930 |
| 11 Jul (12 Jul) |
Combined Rehearsal (Reserve) |
1825-1910 | 1730-1900 | 1730-1930 |
| 18 Jul (19 Jul) |
Combined Rehearsal (Reserve) |
1825-1910 | 1730-1900 | 1730-1930 |
| 25 Jul (26 Jul) |
Combined Rehearsal (Reserve) |
1825-1910 | 1730-1900 | 1730-1930 |
| 1 Aug (2 Aug) |
NDP 2015 Preview (Reserve) |
1825-1910 | 1730-1900 | 1730-1930 |
| 9 Aug (16 Aug) |
NDP 2015 (Reserve) |
1825-1910 | 1730-1900 | 1730-1930 |
All times above are Singapore local time.
The major part of the aerial display happens some time between 1830 to 1900. I know it is quite obvious. Nevertheless, all the airspace closure timings just confirms the aerial display time slots.
Just in case you’re going to be flying in or out of Changi airport on one of those evenings, know that the airport is effectively shutdown during those timings. No flights can take off or land. In fact, no departure is permitted within the five minutes prior to the airspace closure.
Happy plane spotting.
See also: Timings For RSAF SG50 NDP Flypast