NDP 2025: Diamond formations, ‘multi-axis' fly-past to headline parade's aerial display

Straits Times

10-07-2025

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SINGAPORE - Every time the Republic of Singapore Air Force fighter jets roar over the Padang for their National Day manoeuvres, Lieutenant-Colonel Muhammad Iskandar has two things on his mind: keeping Singaporeans safe and maintaining precision every single second.
As the lead pilot for three dynamic flight displays involving F-15SG jets, LTC Iskandar explained that his role includes ensuring the jets arrive over the Padang at the exact second they are scheduled to appear.
'The safety of the population is key in everything that we do,' he said, explaining that the jets fly over the Central Business District and the heartland, where there are many people.
The displays during the parade on Aug 9 include an enhanced salute to the nation, two special SG60 aerial displays, and, for the first time, a multi-axis fly-past.
Military Expert 6 Patrick Wong, deputy chairman of the air participation committee, said that during the salute to the nation, six F-15SG jets will soar over the Padang in an arrow-shaped formation, with four F-16 jets following close behind in a diamond shape, in celebration of the nation's diamond jubilee.
The first of two subsequent aerial displays specially prepared for SG60 will showcase six F-15SG jets flying in a V-shaped formation, with the two jets on the sides peeling away and soaring upwards to symbolise Singapore's ongoing peace and prosperity.
In the second display, four F-16 jets will perform a cross-turn – a move where jets fly alongside one another other in a diamond formation before splitting off in different directions in a carefully-timed manoeuvre.
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In the multi-axis fly-past, six F-15SG fighter jets will fly in from opposite directions – one group from above the National Gallery, the other from Marina Bay – zoom past each other over the Padang, then fly almost vertically upwards.
'What is particularly challenging about this manoeuvre is that the aircraft will be flying head-on with vertical separation,' LTC Iskandar said. This means that the planes will be flying towards each other from opposite directions, but at different heights.
'To meet on time, on target over the Padang means ensuring that our navigation, timing and calculations are spot on.'
LTC Muhammad Iskandar is the lead pilot for three dynamic flight displays involving F-15SG jets.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
ME6 Wong said National Day Parade 2025 will feature 26 RSAF aircraft in various displays: six F-15SG fighter aircraft, four F-16 fighter aircraft, one A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft, one G550-Airborne Early Warning aircraft, two Fokker 50 aircraft, two C-130 Hercules aircraft, one S-70B Seahawk helicopter, four AH-64D Apache Attack helicopters, three CH-47 heavy-lift helicopters and two H225M medium-lift helicopters.
The air component of the NDP will start with the Hercules aircraft and the medium-lift helicopter transporting the Red Lions and naval divers over the Padang and Marina Bay respectively for their free-fall display.
This will be followed by an NDP staple – the state flag fly-past where a heavy-lift helicopter, escorted by two Apaches, will carry the Singapore flag across the Padang.
With eyes already on the skies, the F-15SG and F-16 fighter jets will perform their enhanced salute to the nation, followed by the two aerial displays to mark SG60.
Captain Rachel Wong, in her first participation in an NDP, will be flying an F-16 fighter jet on the right side of both diamond formations.
She described flying in 2025's parade as 'exhilarating and exciting', as the aerial fly-past portion had always been her favourite segment of the NDP as a child.
'To now have the opportunity to fly in that formation is something that I treasure very much,' CPT Wong said.
Captain Rachel Wong, in her first participation in NDP, will be flying an F-16 fighter jet on the right side of the diamond formations.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
Executing the manoeuvre is quite challenging, especially when navigating tight airspace, she explained. As a pilot on the wing, CPT Wong said she has to place a great deal of trust in her flight lead.
'(My flight lead) is the only person I'm able to see, and so I have to trust that he not only keeps the spacing between the F-16 and F-15SGs correct, but that we fly over the show centre in a nice formation,' she said.
CPT Wong also expressed a deep sense of pride in being part of something larger than herself.
After the display by the fighter jets, Singaporeans will get to enjoy an integrated aerial fly-past with the mobile column – a historic first for NDP.
A total of 22 aircraft will sweep across the skies in four formations over the Padang, the first of which is the multi-axis fly-past. This is followed by a jet formation fly-past featuring the Multi-Role Tanker Transport, four F-16 fighter jets and an airborne early-warning aircraft.
The next formation is a helicopter formation fly-past consisting of one Seahawk, two Apaches, two medium-lift helicopters and one heavy-lift helicopter.
This final transport formation fly-past will feature two Hercules aircraft – the same planes that carry the Red Lions – which are rarely seen by the audience as they are typically high up in the sky, said one of the aircraft's pilots, LTC C. Teeneshwaran. This fly-past will also include two Fokker 50 aircraft.
'My role as a formation lead entails ensuring that all four aircraft fly a meticulously coordinated track over the Padang, in precise timing and alignment,' said LTC Teeneshwaran.
LTC C. Teeneshwaran takes immense pride in ensuring a good show.
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
'I take immense pride in ensuring a good show,' said LTC Teeneshwaran. 'The pride never diminishes when we fly over the heart of Singapore.'
The aerial displays are not just on National Day – Singaporeans can continue to enjoy fighter jet fly-pasts on Aug 10 during the heartland celebrations. From 6pm to 6.30pm on that day, four F-16 fighter jets will fly over various parts of the island, looping around each site twice.