flight line...the pride of the Royal Malaysian Air Force
December is the month i`ve been waiting for...Its LIMA 2011...the two year aerospace and maritime exhibitions showcasing a full flight line of military jets and aircraft on the tarmac of Langkawi International Airport, military hardware and defence technologies to kill babies at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Center and warships from foreign superpower and from our nation naval forces...laying quietly at the Awana Porto Malai anchorage...
center stage of the air show...the Smokey Bandit of the 17th Sqn...RMAF
The journey to Langkawi took place on the 5th...where me and me family drove from the hectic Federal Republics of Lumut to the Northern Region....
I thanked the government for the efficient highways they build....it was a smooth ride along the way...and it took us 5 hours to reach the Kuala Kedah ferry terminal....
at the jetty...i am quite surprised that they still use the ol Sibu ferry..the long fast ferry that once run along the river of Sarawak....yeah..there are a few new fast ferry....it looks new outside...but to my horror...it looks like a crowded express bus with airlines seats...maybe from scrapped 737 or A310....but what the hell...
hey..maybe someone should start a Ro-Ro service from the Mainland to Langkawi....the current Ro-Ro service is done by barge...yes..a tongkang pulled by an age old tug....for RM300.00 you can bring your car from the mainland to the island....but its not worth it....its dangerous and the possibilities that your car might end up as tukun tiruan is high...better sewa kereta sajaa....
on the tarmac with the Flanker...
anyway...
this year LIMA is the hot bed for RMAF 2nd multi role combat aircraft requirement...where major aircraft consortiums..merge together at Langkawi International Airport to lobby and to show off their product to the Malaysian government....this is much2 different than previous LIMA....3 major aircraft corporation converge in one event...trying to win the hearts of the decision maker....
the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
Dassault Aviation brought along their Dassault Rafale..the so called Omnirole fighter....2 of them where from day one they fly above Langkawi to show their capabilties....
From the Eurofighter GmbH....the Eurofighter Typhoon from the RAF....
the Eurofighter Typhoon
then the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet...and among these rivals are the pride of the RMAF....the latest Su-30MKM Flanker H....the MiG-29N Fulcrum..also known as Taufan Ganas or Smokey Bandits...the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-16C....
those are the air show line up....
on the tarmac...more than a dozen aircraft are present for static display....
the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT)....the USN P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft...the USAF C-17 Globemaster III....are among the massive transport and special purpose aircraft present....
legacy of heroes...Sikorsky S-90
then the helicopters....starting off with the Republic of Singapore Navy SH-60 Seahawk...an organic helicopter units attached to the RSN new Formidable class frigate....the Eurocopter Tigre attack helicopter again making a debut....maybe still trying to lobby the army air wing...
then the workhorse of the Royal Malaysian Navy...the Super Lynx and a legendary Fennec that fired shots in anger towards fukken pirates during Laurel incident....the MMEA Eurocopter Dauphin...the Fire Department Mi-17...the only Soviet era helicopter on display....the army Pasukan Udara Tentera Darat (PUTD) A-109 LOH.....to name a few of our own...and oh...the ol and legendary S-61N Nuri....
RAAF Multi Role Tanker Transport...
also on the tarmac are fast jets from the RMAF...the Su-30MKM...the MiG-29N....the F/A-18D...the MB-339CD....the Hawks....along with the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Saab-39 Gripen...RSAF F-16 block what i dont remember but looks cool....
RTAF Saab 39 Gripen
civil aircraft...dang....too many of them...some from the Department of Civil Aviation....a few from local private jet operator and local civil agencies....
on the tarmac with RMAF F/.A-18D Hornet...
the exhibition center were open to public on the 9th and 10th December...but i managed to get inside with some strings pulled....i was attracted to the maritime section of the exhibition where shipbuilding giants like Fincantieri and DSME show off their warships design...
the Hawk 208....
and ouh...the French also were in the picture....now we got a hint of how does the so called 2nd generation patrol vessels for the RMN will looks like....but it still scanty2....x konfirm pun....
all in all....although this is the first time i attend the LIMA...it was a mind blasting experience....the excitement of lookin at the fast jets flying at low altitude...pulling up some tricky combat maneuvers....criss-crossing the sky of Langkawi...i feel like a small boy again....
how i adore those beautiful jets and the crazy men who flew em.....
great show by the way...
and ouh...will write on the 2nd part of LIMA 2011...the maritime segment....later lah....
-come to Langkawi and see the action yourself-
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