Red Lions parachutists jump off a military helicopter for a National Day Parade aerial display rehearsal with smoke released from canisters strapped to their legs. The sunlight streams in at just the right angle and timing. A leap of faith.
"Beware of missionitis!" reminded the helicopter pilot in charge to all the air crew and aerial display parachutists at a safety briefing, before a flight for a National Day aerial display rehearsal.
As part of the series of aerial photography flights for the book, Over Singapore, I was fortunate to fly with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) on three helicopter flights in the year 2014. Two of which were with the aerial display parachutists known as the Red Lions on board a Super Puma and one was on board a Chinook towing a giant state flag. This meant that I also had to attend three safety briefings, each one mandatory before a flight to all going on board. Missionitis was repeated at every briefing.
Missionitis was especially emphasized to the Red Lions. On the first rehearsal flight with them, at 10000 feet above sea level, they were all geared up and ready to jump. Moments before, during the ascent, I saw them close their eyes in deep thought going through the jump routine in their minds, with their arms rehearsing the moves-when to tuck in, when to pull the cord... The team leader, leaning out of the door to check the air visibility, had to make the final call to proceed. The window of opportunity was a breath-stopping few minutes... Alas, it was a no-go! Low lying clouds had obstructed the view of the parade ground which they had to land on and they could not wait for it to clear due to the parade programme. I suppose in no duff missions, they would have jumped (each of them was a veteran special forces commando), but for safety, parachuting onto a floating platform surrounded by skyscrapers, which they could not see from the heli, would not have been worth the risk.
So, we had to go again the following week. For them, it was a missed opportunity. For me it was a bonus flight. It turned out providential as the sunlight streaming into the smokey heli at just the right angle and timing in the final shot was sacred.
"Missionitis" is an aviation industry term used to describe situations where pilots or people in an aerial operation place more emphasis on mission accomplishment while compromising safety. It could very well apply to any of us in any situation.
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The exhibition has been extended to 28 Nov!
Venue : URA City Gallery (level 3)
The URA Centre at 45 Maxwell Road Singapore 069118
https://www.ura.gov.sg/uol/citygallery?p1=visit
Duration : 10 September - 31 October 2015 28 November 2015
Mondays to Saturdays from 9:00am to 5:00pm
There will be a talk by Richard Koh on the aerial photos on Sat 3 Oct at 2-3pm.
Please register for the talk here: http://www.aude.sg/talks/registration/oversingapore/
Please click the image below to go to the online registration with a larger image with readable text.
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Aerial Photo Exhibition (1-13th Aug 2015) at The Fullerton Hotel, Singapore well received.
More about the exhibition and photos in a coming blog.
#oversingapore, #aerialphotography, #booklaunch, #photoexhibition, #Singapore, #SG50, #helicopter
Over Singapore book launch event videoOver Singapore book launch event video. Guest of Honour: Mr Khoo Teng Chye (ED of Centre For Liveable Cities). Book written by Professor Tommy Koh, published by Editions Didier Millet (EDM), photographed by Richard W J Koh. Held at The Fullerton Hotel on 31 July 2015 from 330pm to 430pm. Aerial photo exhibition from 1-13 Aug 2015, 11am to 8pm daily except 9 Aug from 11am to 4pm only.
Book and aerial photo exhibition launch event video. A special preview was done in support of St Luke's Hospital and Eldercare during their Appeal Luncheon on 31 July 2015. A portion of proceeds from photos and books sold was donated to them. Writer Professor Tommy Koh donated all his writer's fee to them. The book Over Singapore and aerial photo exhibition was launched by Guest-of-Honour Mr Khoo Teng Chye (Executive Director of Centre For Liveable Cities) on 31 July 2015 at 3:30pm at The Fullerton Hotel (retail unit #01-08). This is probably the first photo exhibition displaying purely aerial photos of Singapore mostly taken from a helicopter.
Over Singapore book cover.
Writer: Professor Tommy Koh
Photographer: Richard W J Koh
Publisher: Editions Didier Millet (EDM)
Managing Director: Didier Millet
Editorial Director: Martin Cross
Production Manager: Sin Kam Cheong
Studio Manager: Annie Teo
Designer: Felicia Wong
Editor: Sng Siok Ai
Sold at all major bookstores in Singapore (so far it has been seen at Kinokuniya, MPH, Popular, Objectifs). Listed price SGD42+GST.
Book and aerial photo exhibition launch e-flyer.
At the book launch on 31 July. Left-right: Richard Koh (photographer), Professor Tommy Koh (writer), Sng Siok Ai (editor), Didier Millet (publisher), Guest-of-Honour Mr Khoo Teng Chye (ED, Centre for Liveable Cities). [Group photo taken by Tan Eng Keng]
At Kiss 92 FM radio studio. Left-right: Jason, Maddy, Richard and Arnold. [Group photo taken by Nadirah Zaidi]
Over Singapore was featured in the local media
23 July 2015 - Shin Min Daily
28 July 2015 - Mothership.sg
29 July 2015 - Straits Times Life!
29 July 2015 - Kiss 92 FM radio interview with Maddy, Jason and Arnold
2 Aug 2015 - Zao Bao
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The retractable roof has an LED display and in celebrating our recent National Day this August, the State Flag was displayed on it.
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A FA2100 flight data recorder (FDR) by L-3 Aviation Recorders, the largest manufacturer of such a device. Mandatory for every aircraft, this device makes cockpit voice and other flight data recordings, especially crucial in any air incident investigation. Designed to be very reliable and highly survivable, a FDR’s components are tested in various ways in extreme conditions at L-3 Aviation Recorders’ facility, including resistance to 3400G impact and 1100°C fire. It is actually painted a bright orange for better visual detection during recovery and has an underwater acoustic beacon with a six-year battery.
Shown in a puncture test rig, the Crash-Survivable Memory Unit (CSMU) has a protective casing made of stainless steel or titanium designed to survive flight and crash conditions as listed:
Operating Temperature -55 °C to +70 °C
Non-operating Temperature -55 °C to +85 °C
Operating Altitude -1,000 to 55,000 ft.
Operating Vibration DO-160C Para 8.5.2
Category C (random)
Penetration ED-55 500 lbs./ 10 ft. /¼-in. probe
Static Crush ED-55 5,000 lbs.
Fire Protection 50,000 BTU/ sq. ft. /hr. for 60 min. at 1100 °C; 10 hrs. at 260 °C
Impact ED-55 3,400 G, 6.5 ms, half-sine shock wave
Electromagnetic interference test set up.
Mounting of sensors for a vibration test.
The current solid state flight data recorder in the middle with the Crash-Survivable Memory Unit detached, flanked by older models.
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Aerial view of Angkor Wat
Other aerial views around Siem Reap
