RSAF celebrates 55 years!
To commemorate the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) 55th anniversary, the RSAF Open House will be returning to Paya Lebar Air Base on 9 and 10 September, having not had one for seven years. Before that Open House, there will be an Enhanced Aerial Display at this year's National Day Parade, on 9 August. As part of tradition, the RSAF55 Parade will be conducted on 1 September 2023 on RSAF Day. This year's parade will be held at Tengah Air Base, with airmen past and present, including NSmen, to mark the RSAF's 55th anniversary.
Visitors to the Open House at Paya Lebar can expect familiarisation flights with the crowd-favourite CH-47 Chinook, as well as the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) for the first time.
The chairman of the RSAF55 steering committee launched the celebrations with the unveiling of an F-15SG (a special variant of the F-15 for Singapore) commemorative tail flash at Paya Lebar Air Base on 8 June 2023.
The RSAF55 logo depicts a Hawker Hunter, the RSAF's first fighter aircraft, as it flies in from the bottom of the logo and transforms into the F-15SG fighter aircraft. The Hawker Hunter signifies the RSAF's heritage and reminds us of the RSAF's humble beginnings. The vertical climb symbolises the RSAF's journey through 55 years of serving and protecting the nation, as well as the RSAF's transformation into a modern and capable force. The RSAF's continued pursuit of excellence is capped off by an F-15SG. The RSAF roundel is cradled within the ‘5', representing our airmen and women who have been the backbone of our progress.
The tagline Defending Our Skies, Securing Our Future highlights that the RSAF's mission to ‘defend our skies' remains at our core, and ‘securing our future' signifies the shared purpose with Singaporeans to ensure that Singapore continues to progress and thrive. As the RSAF evolves with the ever-changing security landscape, we are anchored by our purpose to secure the common future we share as Singaporeans, and stand ready to safeguard our home whenever called upon.
On 16 June 2023, the F-15SG with the tail logo was seen on a morning sortie out of Paya Lebar. We are still looking for its serial, so we welcome any feedback on this!
Credits: @dc_ah and MinDef Singapore.