Singapore Airshow Opens This Week

Black Knights at the inaugural Singapore Airshow

The 2014 Singapore Airshow, a biennial event that is the largest aerospace event in the Asia-Pacific region, opens this week.

In addition to spectacular flying feats, this will be the first time that Airbus displays its new twin-engine A350 at an international airshow.  The A350 made its maiden voyage in June and is expected to go into service towards the end of 2014 with launch customer Qatar Airways.  Airbus says that the A350 uses 25% less fuel than current planes.  It also offers amenities similar to Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, such as larger windows and more storage space.  Airbus hopes to use the show to bring in more orders.

Singapore’s Black Knights, as the team is known, will fly F-16 fighter jets painted in the colors of the country’s flag in a series of maneuvers at speeds of up to 1,000 km/h in a 22-minute show.

At the 2012 show, Jakarta-based Lion Air placed the largest order to date for Boeing commercial aircraft.  The low-cost carrier ordered 201 of Boeing’s 737 Max single-aisle jets and 29 of its 737-900ERs, the extended-range version of the aircraft and was the largest firm order for Boeing in terms of both dollar value and the number of planes.

The show started in 2008 and the 2012 edition saw 145,000 visitors and 900 exhibitors from 50 countries.

(Photo: Dave1185)