Singapore Air Force Museum
A couple weeks ago we took the entire family to the Singapore Air Force Museum. It was an incredibly relaxed experience for being able to get so up close and personal with these amazingly engineered machines, not to mention a little boy's and daddy's dream come true. The museum is located next to the Paya Lebar Air Base and is an interactive museum featuring the Republic of Singapore Air Force's history until today. You can see a number of retired air vehicles in the outdoor gallery and I think for Alfie and Teddy, this was the highlight of the visit.
The outdoor gallery is essentially like a big open garage but just the right size for a little kid to roam around. Alfie enjoyed inspecting the airplanes and some of the weapons systems on display. In the upstairs and indoor galleries there were some interactive games to try your hand at some of the simulated equipment. I think, by far, Alfie's favorite indoor exhibits were the display upon display filled with miniature vehicles having to do with Singapore's military. His little head must have been exploding from all the awesomeness.
The exhibit I found most fascinating was seeing a dissection of an old plane and its inner workings. I was struck by how light and flimsy the parts felt, and my husband morbidly reminded me that many similar planes were easily shot down during wartime. Did I mention hubs is a war buff? He keeps life interesting for all of us.
Both Daddy Snuggs and I agreed that we couldn’t help feel that the museum reminded us of an interactive commercial for the military, which got me to thinking why it is such. The Republic of Singapore Air Force originated in 1968 out of necessity as Britain announced a military withdrawal. This meant that Singapore, which just won its independence, needed to saddle up and prioritize its military defenses.
Since then, the RSAF has been improving and adding to its military vehicle inventory, as is meticulously documented for the public to see on its website. In addition, it is also refining the skillsets and prowess of its personnel. On top of the ongoing effort to progress, the RSAF has also been involved on peace-keeping and relief efforts such as the Tiawanese Earthquake Relief Mission of 1999 and the UN Mission of Support in East Timor in December 1999.
Basically, what we gathered is that anyone walking away from the museum would be aware of the city-state’s commitment for a continued and active military defense. After all, Singapore only did just celebrate it’s 52nd birthday.
The museum is surely thought provoking for us adults and totally a hit with little babes that like airplanes. Just be sure to packs some snacks as the cafeteria is closed for good and be warned of the occasional deafness inducing booms from the jets taking off next door. You and your kids’ eardrums will thank you for that.
