SINGAPORE — The National Day Parade (NDP) this year to mark the 50th anniversary of the Republic’s independence will honour Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew by having a special flypast by the Air Force’s aerobatics team.

The aerial tribute adds to the lineup for the biggest ever Aug 9 bash, which will include a new NDP song composed by Dick Lee, and a 50s throwback segment featuring performers in old military, police and fire brigade uniforms.

A tribute video celebrating the late Mr Lee’s contributions to the nation will also be played at the show, on top of the previously announced plan to leave the seat where Mr Lee, who died on March 23, would have taken empty, with a bouquet placed on it.

Applications for tickets to the preview show and actual parade open tomorrow (May 8).

Elaborating on the aerial display in a Facebook post yesterday, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen wrote: “The Black Knights will thunder over the Padang, lined up as five stars watching over this nation he founded; representing the ideals that Mr Lee spent his life pushing for — democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.”

He added: “It will be a fitting tribute to Mr Lee, for all of us to look up and beyond and remember his wish to keep Singapore going.”

Brigadier-General Melvyn Ong, Chairman of NDP 2015 Executive Committee, announced plans for the Black Knights’ “Five Stars” flypast in honour of the late Mr Lee, at a briefing yesterday. Plans to fly a “Missing Man Formation” aerial salute at Mr Lee’s funeral procession were scrapped following a downpour that day.

Other highlights include the annual aerial display, with more than 50 aircraft involved this year — the biggest display ever — and a Vintage Parade, which showcases performers in old military and civil service uniforms.

BG Ong reiterated that the Jubilee celebrations will not only be about reflecting on the nation’s past, but rallying Singaporeans to look into its future. Citing the theme of “Majulah Singapura” — “Onward Singapore” in Malay — for the Aug 9 bash, BG Ong said it reflects the focus on remembering and celebrating the nation’s progress while continuing to forge forward. “It is this forward-looking element that is important ... It is about reflecting how Singapore began 50 years ago and the message is that we go forward,” he said. The parade’s logo is that of the national flag.

The new NDP theme song this year, “Our Singapore”, also aims to convey the same forward-looking message, said composer Dick Lee, who had penned the popular “Home” ballad that were used in the 1998 and 2004 parades.

Although he was initially apprehensive about composing a new number that would inevitably draw comparisons with “Home”, the prominent musician decided to take up the mantle, after he felt that the plans for SG50 had “a lot of focus on the past and not enough about the future”.

He added: “This song is different from ‘Home’ because ‘Home’ is about the now; this song is about tomorrow.”

Applications for tickets to the preview and actual parade, which will be the biggest ever, with 50,000 seats for spectators at the Padang and The Float @ Marina Bay, will open from tomorrow to May 17. Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents can apply for two, four or six tickets to either the preview on Aug 1 or the show on Aug 9 through SMS; AXS and SAM stations; or the official NDP website at www.ndp.org.sg.

Successful applicants will be notified from June 1 to 5 via their contact number provided and collection will be from June 5 to 14 at Marina Square Shopping Mall Atrium.

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