SOARING DISPLAY: The Black Knights flying over buildings in the Central Business District during a rehearsal last weekend for the National Day Parade. The six pilots have to contend with strong winds that can blow them off-course. They also have to fly over a built-up area, which leaves them with less space to perform their stunts.

Black Knights have put in 20 practice runs since May, as they prepare to dazzle NDP crowd with heart-stopping aerial acrobatics

The screen of an air force flight simulator flickers on, revealing a panorama of the Central Business District and its towering skyscrapers.

Soon, a Black Knight flies about 900m above the roof of the 280m-tall UOB Plaza before swooping down towards Marina Bay and whizzing past another Black Knight.

It is a simulation that has now become a routine. The six ace Black Knight pilots from the Republic of Singapore Air Force have run through such scenarios about 20 times between May and last month.

The pilots have also practised flying their F-16C Fighting Falcons over Marina Bay and the islands at the southern tip of Singapore, such as Pulau Sudong and Pulau Pawai.

The preparations will culminate in a heart-stopping routine of aerial acrobatics at next month’s National Day Parade (NDP).

By the time they take to the skies on Aug 9, the pilots would have clocked about 120 hours of flying time practising for the big show.

Their objective: to wow the 300,000 people expected to show up at Marina Bay – and to do so safely, said Colonel Ho Foo Sing, the NDP’s chairman of air participation.

The Black Knights, who fly at a speed of 13km a minute, will have no room for error. Although their manoeuvres take place only over the water, their flight paths will take them over the downtown core.

Flying over a built-up area leaves pilots with less space to perform their manoeuvres, said Col Ho.

Another challenge when flying above the concrete jungle: winds that blow in from as far as Batam and bounce off the buildings.

Col Ho said: “The winds change very much, but the pilots are quick to make adjustments so that they will not be blown off their flight path.”

But one benefit of flying over buildings is that the pilots can use the rooftops as landmarks. “It is easier for us to look out for each other and know where we are,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Leng Wai Mun, known as Black Knight 1.

During the six-minute display, the six pilots have only a few seconds between the first four stunts. Then, they have about 60 seconds to regroup for the finale, when the jets will shoot towards the ground, leaving behind a curtain of smoke.

 

The race to finish 2,000 costumes and props

- by April Chong

- Photography by Samuel He

ALL SEWN UP: Miss Sarinah (left) and Miss Arceli Pacis, seamstresses who worked on the costumes for this year’s NDP, proudly display the finished products.

In the pantry of No. 1 Costume Costume, a weary seamstress is having a quick nap. In the next room, 20 people are whirring away on sewing machines amid a sea of fabric.

The race is on to ready 2,000 costumes for this year’s National Day Parade (NDP).

No. 1 Costume Costume is one of four companies picked by the parade organisers to make outfits for this year’s performers. A team of 50 seamstresses, purchasers and production managers has been working since May.

“There are just so many different materials used this year. The pleated fabric, for example, has been tickling me for months because of its frayed threads,” said Miss Sarinah, a 23-year-old Indonesian seamstress.

Workers have churned out costumes for everyone, from performers decked out in “feathers” to wheelchair-bound dancers. They are responsible for everything from shoes and headpieces to props.

The costumes had to be ready for full-dress rehearsals this month.

Said one of the company’s directors, Mr Alikhan Surattee: “The turnaround was crazy. We have people who don’t go home for two to three days, and sleep for only four hours on the sofa or in the pantry before they wake up and start again.”

The company produced more than half of the costumes – each made to measure – for this year’s parade. They used some 10,000 metres of fabric, an equal length of wire, 550 zippers and 400 buttons.

Two employees even flew overseas and lugged back 400 pairs of shoes – weighing 300kg – for performers.

“The costumes just get more elaborate every year, and a lot more work is needed,” said 48-year-old seamstress Arceli Pacis.

Even now, the work is not over. More changes may come and there is “wear and tear” to worry about, Mr Alikhan said.

“Ten years ago, we had to do only 25 mirror costumes for NDP,” he added. “Now there are just so many more types.”

 

RSAF men train hard to perfect their moves

- by Yeo Ghim Lay

- Photography by Joseph Nair

GETTING IT RIGHT: Nothing escapes the attention of 1WO Elangovan, who checks everything from the alignment of rifle barrels to the soldiers’ footwork.

The 92 men stand perfectly still while First Warrant Officer Elangovan Palaniappan strides across the Marina Bay parade ground, armed with his “pace stick”.

He scrutinises everyone’s feet, ensuring that the men are exactly 76cm apart.

The men, from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), are among a 680-strong contingent that will march in step to form the words “NDP 08” during the Aug 9 National Day spectacular.

More than 2,600 people are marching this year and 1WO Elangovan is one of 160 trainers getting them into shape for the 57-minute ceremonial parade.

“Every detail is important, from the way you hold your weapon to your posture,” said the regimental sergeant major, who is the RSAF contingent’s chief trainer for the third year running.

He has spent nine hours every Saturday since April at Nee Soon Camp perfecting his men’s moves. Training starts at 10am, and does not end before 7pm. While it may seem easy, it is anything but, said 1WO Elangovan.

When in formation, the men, who are mainly in their 20s, stand perfectly still for 45 minutes. When the national anthem is playing, their rifle barrels have to be perfectly aligned with their shoulders.

They also have to be precise in their footwork. For example, at the command of “sedia” (Malay for stand at attention), each man has to lift one leg up to a right angle to the ground and then plant it back down – with his feet at a 30-degree angle to each other on the ground.

The insistence on perfection and the long hours of training were not greeted with enthusiasm initially.

Now, though, the men seem determined to make their performance on the big day first-rate, he said.

Full-time national serviceman Paul Lim, for one, has given up his other love – wakeboarding – to train.

Said the 20-year-old: “It was tough giving up my personal time, but I’m honoured to be selected to represent the nation at the NDP.”