The flight experience that took place on the 23rd of July 2011 was indeed an enriching and an experience for me. Hence, it just cannot be simply put to plain words but anyway I will just try my best.
On the day itself, which was on a Saturday morning, me and 3SG Kelvin Oh, together with 4 other aeromodellers from Maris Stella School, went touring around inside the Singapore Youth Flying Club, with our guide Jason Ong. We were able to see with our very own eyes how the student pilots practise and improvised their flying skills, through the flight simulator and we got inside the simulator to feel how was it like.
Then, we went for short break in the canteen for an hour before the actual flight started. We were later thoroughly brief by the pilot of our own safety well-beings, as well as the locations we were going to fly to, including the range in altitudes that certain locations allow us to fly in.
The aircraft that we took is a Diamond Aircraft (DA40). I was grouped with another Maris Stella student when I took the plane but unfortunately, I had to sit in the back seat, after a coin toss loss. The aircraft took off at about 10 minutes later, and well, the view from the top, all I can say is - SPLENDID.
However, sitting at the back had its own various advantages, including the freedom to look out for everything that is on the ground as the pilot simply only had to say to the person beside him. As a result, I am able to see various locations, such as the NCC HQ and our school and the vast transporting infrastructure such as the expressways and MRT railways. Also landmarks such as the Marina Bay Sands, Merlion, Resorts World Sentosa, the Marina barrage and the Singapore Flyer can be seen from a bird's eye view.
To add on, whenever I asked the pilot to see what is on the ground, he will do a steep turn and I could almost feel myself resting on the window. However, the most interesting part is the power of the g-force, where the pilot would usually nose dive and did an immediate rise, and you could literally feel the pressure weighing down on you, nailing you down on your very own seat.
Hence, in conclusion, this flight experience is definitely an unforgettable and remarkable experience for me, and I hereby strongly encourage all of you to take it up whenever the opportunity rises.
- REPORTED BY 3SG SYAFIQ SEDEK
Ever saw planes flying so near the ground you could almost see the pilot's face? Ever wanted to be a pilot? Then SYFC's flight experience is probably the best activity for you. I, 3SG Kelvin Oh, will just have a brief report on my experience, during flight, as I believe 3SG Syafiq have elaborated well on the ground activities.
I was grouped with this Maris Stella guy called Nigel. I took the front seat, and it was a breathtaking experience. Firstly, the pilot, sitting next to me, is an experience flyer, and also a General with the RSAF. The General brought us along the plane for a safety check and explained how it was done.
On the plane, the pilot and I wore the headphones, and I could actually hear the conversations between the control tower, and other planes, including ours. And the plane was referred to as 'Skylark 777' and I remember the pilot saying "Skylark 777 , good morning " and the control tower replied with " Good morning " After requesting for permission to taxi and take off, we started gaining altitude, in layman term, he flew higher, until about 1,200 feets, which still gives us a perfect view of the ground.
The pilot was telling us that Singapore seldom grant permission for planes like ours to fly and enter the CBD region, but, we tried asking for permission , and we were granted it! So we flew past Sentosa, MBS, CCHMS, and CCHY. At the Bukit Timah area, the pilot granted me control of the plane, and there I went. We also felt the GForce when the pilot did extreme stuns which is really, wow. All in all, the trip was an enriching one which have given me alot of information and experiences. And really, these are once in a life-time experiences.
Thus, I urge all cadets to work hard, in the field of aeromodelling, or maybe even PDS/Freestyle, and be rewarded with awesome trips like these. I also urge graduating Part Ds to join SYFC, and take up the Basic Wing Course.
- REPORTED BY 3SG KELVIN OH
