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Singapore Airshow 2016: Meet the plane spotters

SINGAPORE — When the Singapore Airshow opens its doors to the public today, David Chua and Eric Chang will definitely be there. In fact, they’ve already been there for the entire week, with their DSLRs, ready to take the perfect aerial shot.

SINGAPORE — When the Singapore Airshow opens its doors to the public today, David Chua and Eric Chang will definitely be there. In fact, they’ve already been there for the entire week, with their DSLRs, ready to take the perfect aerial shot.

Their obsession with military planes is only equaled by their passion for photography, which can be seen on the website MAPHOTOSG or Military Aviation Photography Singapore, which Chua co-founded.

Suffice it to say the biennial event is an important one for these avid plane spotters, whose love of these winged metal beasts began at a young age.

Chua’s early exposure was through Singapore Airshow’s predecessor, the Asian Aerospace back in the early 1990s. “From then on, I’ve been going to every one (up until the Singapore Airshow),” said the 40-year-old who works in IT.

He sometimes plans his holidays around airshows and exhibitions elsewhere, such as the annual Tiger Meet by NATO in Norway back in 2012, and a showcase by the Swiss Air Force marking its 100th anniversary in 2014.

But most of the time, it’s all about the Republic Of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). And in-between the Airshow and other big public events such as the National Day Parade, you’ll find him hanging out with his friends “somewhere around Punggol” to see planes taking off from the Paya Lebar Air Base (on the western side, you’ll have planespotters zooming in on the Tengah Air Base).

“We maintain a close relationship with the RSAF. We don’t post anything that’s sensitive and don’t hang around the perimeter fences. We’ve even shared our pictures with them,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chang has only taken his aerial photography seriously during the previous two editions of the Singapore Airshow. The 38-year-old storeman in a company warehouse said his own fascination also started early, thanks to movies such as Top Gun and growing up near Paya Lebar Air Base.

“I’m not crazy about the technical aspects, I’m a guy who just wants to see them in flight — that’s where I get my kick.”

That said, he sheepishly admitted it was only last year when it dawned on him he could take photos from his block. But for this weekend, he’ll certainly be ready at the Changi Exhibition Centre.

Chang said he’ll be heading for the morning aerial display first (“the static displays are not going away”); and when he’s not snapping away, he’ll be admiring them (Chang is also keen to check out the display model aircrafts and the military equipment).

“It’s all about the whole feel of the airshow, not just the aircraft,” he said, recalling how he was impressed by the China exhibition of its commercial aircraft the previous edition.

For an airshow veteran like Chua, there have been quite a few changes since the Asian Aerospace. “Singapore Airshow is a much more commercial set-up,” he said.

While he described the first couple of editions (2008 and 2010) as “pretty messy”, he said it has improved quite a lot, thanks to curating the event via country-specific showcases and bringing in the big aerospace names such as Boeing.

“As for the flying displays, the Airshow has tried to do their best in terms of the air space limitations that we have.”

Chua has been in enough Airshows to know that it’s not just an event for hardcore enthusiasts. “It’s a family event!” he laughed. “Even if you’re not really into planes or photography, it’s still a good day out. It’s something that comes every two years and here’s one weekend you can bring your family to enjoy the space, the stunts.”

And what about those keen on taking nice photos but only have their iPhone to rely on? “Shoot a video. We do that, too,” he laughed.

 

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HOT TIPS

BEST VANTAGE POINT OUTSIDE THE VENUE. “The aerial displays are in the northern part of the island so East Coast Park has no vantage point. The best location is still Changi Beach, from Carpark 6 onwards. You’ll just have to walk,” said David.

 

BEST TIME TO TAKE A PHOTO. “Focus on those turns during the aerial display. That’s where you’ll see vapor collecting on the wings of the aircraft, and then on the wing tips, you’ll see two streaks of white lines,” said Eric.

 

 

 

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