Since my teens I have been interested in aviation. My main hobby then was making plastic aircraft models.   But then things changed .......It was not meant to be like that when I first took up photography to support my model making activities.    I was not happy with the photos in magazines which did not show the details that I was after for model making purposes.  What was meant to be an extension of the hobby took over as the main activity.  Slowly I found myself spending more time in the field, and chasing that special livery aircraft.    My attention also shifted from the more agressive looking warplanes to the more graceful and elegent looking civil airliners.

Model of 9V-TAA, a 1/200th scale Hasegawa kit, the size of your palm.

Due to time "stolen" by spotting, I now have a sizeable collection of unmade model kits.  I'm not complaining though.  There will be a time in the future for those model kits.  But for now, I have made many new friends when engaging in spotting.  This is one aspect of the hobby that is so wonderful.   Indeed meeting new friends to share this hobby is one of the highlights of any spotting trip.  Holidays aren't complete without a spotting session at the destination airport.  There is now an additional 7 kg of gear to carry along.   Ah well....the joys of being an aircraft spotter!

 9V-TAE as photographed at Changi Airport on 7 Jan 2007.

For me . . . 2006 was best remembered for two different experiences - one each by Airbus and Boeing.  I shall devote this entry to the Airbus events and save the Boeing experience for a subsequent blog entry.  The Airbus A380 is an aircraft embellished with many superlatives and it first visited Singapore on a half day visit during its Asia Pacific tour in November 2005.

Its return in February 2006 was much anticipated not just because it was going to stay longer and take to the air every single day during Asian Aerospace 2006 but mostly because it was wearing the full Singapore Airlines livery.  It arrived ahead of the sunrise but towing it into its final position at Changi Airport's west cargo apron was a prolonged affair.

During its stay and in between demonstration flights over the gawking spectators at Asian Aerospace, the A380 went on a number of demo / test flights.  These provided us with the opportunity to see and photograph it in action.  A series of touch and gos was especially useful for the purpose of capturing it closeup.

Throughout its stay, the A380 took part in airfield compatibility tests and allowed various airport operators to test dock aerobridges and all manners of ground equipment.  Airbus' experts were on hand to observe the proceedings - and no doubt provide valuable advice and feedback to SIA.

While taxying around the airfield, we had the opportunity to photograph it from the viewing deck overlooking the west apron - a perspective that would no longer be possible by the time SIA receives its first A380 in October 2007.

On 14 November 2006, the Airbus A380 once again arrived in Singapore at the start of its intensive Technical Route Proving flights that covered the following routing: TLS-SIN-ICN-SIN-TLS-HKG-NRT-TLS-CAN-PEK-SHA-TLS-JNB-SYD-YVR-TLS.  During its stay in Singapore, it played host to a group of children from Learning Vision, an education centre catering to children of airport personnel.  No doubt they were thrilled to bits and could be seen here jumping for joy (and excitement) after seeing the Big Bus at close quarters.

The Airbus A380 received its type certification on 12 December 2006 and is expected to undertake a series of commercial route proving flights in early 2007.  Its entry into service with Singapore Airlines at the final quarter of 2007 will surely be an historic moment in the history of aviation and Sydney will be its first destination.  This blog will surely be one of many that will bring this event to you in words and pictures.

For all the debate surrounding the A380 and its wiring problems, it is an awe-inspiring aircraft and impresses with its sheer dimension and quietness.

KC Sim

Welcome to my blog folks!    

I'm in the mid-forties and working in the aviation industry for quite a while.    I'm an aviation enthusiast and can count aircraft spotting, aviation photography and aircraft modelling (amongst other things) as my hobbies - in no particular order.    I'm fortunate to be located in Singapore, an aviation hub.  I hope to share with you my interests in this blog.    Watch this space!  

CL Kwek

I frankly don't know when I grew to love airplanes - from the late 1960s, I was already trekking through a rubber plantation to Paya Lebar Airport (then Singapore's gateway).  Sometime in the 1970s, I remember seeing the first ad-hoc charter flight to register in my mind.  It was a VIASA DC-10 and it ignited my appreciation for this beautiful TriJet.

Through the years, aviation became my constant companion and also the path towards being more aware of the world's geography.  I do not recall meeting a second person in Singapore who was keen on aviation until early-April 1997 when I met Andrew Hunt at the perimeter fence abeam of Changi Airport's runway (then 20L) 20C.  Since then, our friendship has blossomed in tandem with my passion for aviation.

I have also had the opportunity to meet aviation enthusiasts from all over the world, many of whom are now dear friends.  Imminent curtailment of action photography alongside the runway due to the erection of a second fence (now nearing completion), a new year and encouragement from Andrew Hunt set me on the path towards creating this blog - it represents a new way for me to enjoy my love for aviation.

As I ramble on about my hobby, I hope to strike a chord with aviation enthusiasts from other parts of the world and that you will enjoy my ramblings.  It is appropriate for me to begin by showing some pictures that represent some of my finest moments in this hobby with Andrew Hunt.

On 4 August 1998, Andrew and I became aware of 9V-SPL going out on a secretive pre-dawn test flight and staked out the fence in front of SIA Engineering's Hangar 1.  Although it was too dark to photograph the landing, we were rewarded for our perseverence with this shot of 9V-SPL in "Tropical" livery minus the "Economy Class" symbol.  Note that the registration was then rendered in blue and this was subsequently changed to orange.

In January 2001, we were both thrilled to bits like two kids in a candy store after capturing EVA Air Cargo's first B747-400F.  At that time, we never knew that this aircraft was not going to wear that livery for too many years.

Fast track to mid-December 2006 when we once again were rewarded for our early start and dogged perseverance with Air China's B737-800 (B-5176) in the Beijing 2008 livery.

While it is great seeing and photographing airplanes in regular, special and hybrid liveries, I am most appreciative of the many friendships I have forged over the years and in my future entries here in this blog, other names will surely surface.

Wishing all a great year ahead in 2007 - sunny skies, great aviation subjects and action and new friendships.   

KC Sim