20 culture&lifestyle TODAY • SATURDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2016 Changi Village eats SINGAPORE — While most of our attention will be taken up gawping at some of today’s most sophisticated flying machines, we’re pretty sure we’ll get hungry during the day. If you’re not interested in the culinary options offered at the site, we’ve compiled this handy guide to some of the areas around the Changi Exhibi- tion Centre, where you can satiate your appe- tite after spending your day there. LITTLE ISLAND BREWERY CO There are of course, several options for you (Block 6 Changi Village Road, #01-01/02, to choose from. If you’re shuttling back to Sin- Tel: 6543 9100) gapore Expo, you can head to Changi City This 270-seater all-day diner and microbrew- Point across the road. Or even take the MRT ery is the latest addition to the neighbourhood, to Changi Airport (if you’re still in the mood for adding to its growing selection of western eat- more planes). Or perhaps head out to Changi eries. Highlights on the dinner menu include Coastal Walk for some seaside dining. How- a sumac spiced grilled spring chicken served ever, a mere 10-minute taxi ride away is Changi with garlic butter, smoked Balinese pork ribs, David Chua, co-founder of military plane photography website MAPHOTOSG, Village, surely a hotbed for diners who like the and a short rib burger with aged cheddar and seen here at the NATO Tiger Meet in Norway in 2012. Photo: David CHUA simple but filling fare. Here are some options smoked ham. There is even a mini Angus for your delectation. DON MENDOZA burger with fries on the kid’s menu. Meet the plane spotters We talk to two Meanwhile, Chang only began taking his aerial photography seri- camera-toting military ously during the previous two edi- plane enthusiasts tions of the Singapore Airshow. The 38-year-old manager of a company CHARLIE’S CORNER MIZZY CORNER MAYO MARTIN warehouse said his own fascination (2 Changi Village Road, Changi Village (2 Changi Village Road, Changi Village [email protected] also started early, thanks to movies Market and Food Centre #01-70, Market and Food Centre #01-26) such as Top Gun and growing up Tel: 6543 1754) Come here for some of the island’s best nasi SINGAPORE — When the Singapore Air- near Paya Lebar Air Base. This stalwart continues to attract diners with its lemak. If the queue is too long (which it mostly show opens its doors to the public to- “I’m not crazy about the tech- no-fuss Western dishes, with the popular pick is), we suggest that you head to Internation- day, David Chua and Eric Chang will nical aspects, I’m a guy who just being its fish and chips. That said, the lamb al Muslim Food Stall Nasi Lemak or even Sri definitely be there. In fact, they’ve al- wants to see them in flight — that’s chop isn’t too bad either. This is also a good Sujana. A good option is to head there in the ready been there the entire week, with It’s all about where I get my kick.” option for an early lunch as it opens at 11.30am. morning and you can do a take away to bring their DSLRs, ready to take the perfect the whole That said, he sheepishly ad- to the airshow. aerial shot. feel of the mitted it was only last year when Their obsession with military airshow, not it dawned on him he could take planes is only equalled by their pas- just the aircraft. photos from his block. But for this sion for photography, which can be weekend, he’ll certainly be ready at Eric Chang seen on the website MAPHOTOSG or (above) the Changi Exhibition Centre. Military Aviation Photography Singa- member of Chang said he’ll be heading for pore, which Chua co-founded. MAPHOTOSG the morning aerial display first Suffice to say the biennial event is (“the static displays are not going an important one for these avid plane away”); and when he’s not snap- spotters, whose love of these winged ping away, he’ll be admiring them JUBILEE COFFEEHOUSE AND BAR PUNGGOL CHOON SENG metal beasts began at a young age. (Chang is also keen to check out the (580 Netheravon Road, Tel: 6543 0060) SEAFOOD RESTAURANT Chua’s early exposure was through display model aircraft and the mili- Located a five-minute drive down from (23A/B Turnhouse Road, Tel: 6546 5251) HOT TIPS Singapore Airshow’s predecessor, the tary equipment). Changi Village, this was opened by the folks It may have left its original Punggol Point loca- Asian Aerospace back in the early Best vantage For an airshow veteran like Chua, behind The Coastal Settlement. This cosy ca- tion where it first began in 1956, but fans still 1990s. “From then on, I’ve been going point outside there have been quite a few changes fe offers a mix of Asian and Western dishes but flock to this nostalgic hot pick for its signature to every one (up until the Singapore the venue: since the Asian Aerospace. “Singa- with a focus on coffeehouse favourites such dishes; whether its famed chilli and pepper cr- Airshow),” said the 40-year-old who “The aerial pore Airshow is a much more com- as chicken chop and American breakfast, as ab, to classic renditions of crispy baby squid, works in IT. displays are in mercial set-up,” he said. well as hor fun, chwee kueh and carrot cake. ngoh hiang and crispy duck, and its specialty, He sometimes plans his holidays the northern part While he described the first cou- A good late-breakfast option. Punggol mee goreng. And nothing beats a of the island so around airshows and exhibitions else- East Coast Park ple of editions (2008 and 2010) as nice seafood meal after a big day out. where, such as the annual Tiger Meet has no vantage “pretty messy”, he said it has since by NATO in Norway back in 2012, and point. The best improved quite a lot. a showcase by the Swiss Air Force location is still “As for the flying displays, the Changi Beach, marking its 100th anniversary in 2014. from Carpark 6 Airshow has tried to do its best in But most of the time, it’s all about onwards. You’ll terms of the air space limitations the Republic of Singapore Air Force just have to walk,” that we have.” (RSAF). And in between the Airshow said David. Chua has been in enough Air- and other big public events such as the shows to know that it’s not just an National Day Parade, you’ll find him Best time to event for hardcore enthusiasts. “It’s THE COASTAL SETTLEMENT take a photo: hanging out with his friends “some- a family event!” he laughed. “Even if (200 Netheravon Road, Tel: 6475 0200) “Focus on where around Punggol” to see planes those turns during you’re not really into planes or pho- LA CANTINA IN VENEZIA This breezy eatery and bar, stylishly appointed taking off from the Paya Lebar Air the aerial display. tography, it’s still a good day out. (Changi Village Hotel, 1 Netheravon with charming artefacts from Singapore’s past, Base (on the western side, you’ll have That’s where It’s something that comes every two Road #08/09-02, Tel: 6546 9190) serves a mix of Asian and Western favourites plane spotters zooming in on the Ten- you’ll see vapour years and here’s one weekend you Two things make this work: Air-conditioning, — whether it is nasi lemak and/or crab pesto collecting on gah Air Base). the wings of the can bring your family to enjoy the which you’ll want after a full day in the sun, and spaghetti that you crave. This casual option “We maintain a close relationship aircraft, and then space, the stunts.” a sea view. At this unique rooftop restaurant, (yes, flip-flops and berms are welcome) boasts with the RSAF. We don’t post anything on the wing tips, And what about those keen on highlights from its mains include the rack of some satisfying renditions on its all-day menu. that’s sensitive and don’t hang around you’ll see two taking nice photos but only have veal with a mushroom sauce, and tenderloin There is also a selection of thin crust pizzas for the perimeter fences. We’ve even shared streaks of white their iPhone to rely on? “Shoot a in gorgonzola cheese sauce. the children. lines,” said Eric. our pictures with them,” he said. video. We do that, too,” he laughed. 21 culture&lifestyle TODAY • SATURDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2016 The Black Eagles over Singapore The Black Eagles is the flight display team of the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF). Although the ROKAF had formed a display team in 1953, the Black Eagles were designated as the official aerobatic team of ROKAF in 1994. These days, the team flies the Korean-built KAI T50B Golden Eagle jets for their aerobatic performances. The aircraft KAI T-50B Golden Eagle (South Korea) G-force Top view Botton view 8-9 During an aerobatics display, pilots experience G forces up to 4 to 5Gs, and 9.45m when performing the aerobatic manoeuvre Multimode 13.14m 'max turn and loop', G forces of up to 8G radar antenna (the structural limit of the aircraft) Wingtip visible light Weight empty Cockpit for Double helix 6.44t two pilots A difficult and risky manoeuvre with airplanes intersecting one another Maximum speed Mach 1.5 (1,640 km/h) Ejectable Range 1,851km seats Service ceiling 14,630m Rate of climb 198m per second 1 2 The Black Eagles show takes about 30 minutes 3 from take-off to landing 4 Rolling combat pitch The aircraft fly in formation before Starboard engine intake breaking up and rolling back 2 Blooming break The eight aircraft converge at the same point and break its formation in a spectacular manner 1 1 The smoke- Afterburner generating system duct The thick smoke trails of the Black Eagles aerobatic Oil and diesel mixture 2 team are made by releasing diesel and oil into the exhaust nozzle Exhaust nozzle There are two smoke tanks in the aircraft, each designed to carry about 230L of smoke oil.