Step up and peer into the cockpit of a vintage two-seater TA-4S Skyhawk plane from 1975, uncover the history of the Republic of Singapore Air Force and more at the Air Force Museum at the perimeter of Paya Lebar Air Base.
Singapore Air Force Museum is a must-visit for families, especially those whose kids are airplane and aircraft fanatics. The free museum has many aircraft and other aviation-related exhibits on display and is also a way to learn more about the vital role that the Republic of Singapore Air Force plays.
Singapore’s Air Force Museum: Machines and the Men and Women of the RSAF
BE PSLE-READY: Join Expert Educators for Revision Boosters to Empower P6 Students
BURP: Join the Sound Collector on a Whimsical Chase at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
WEEKEND IDEAS: Get Inspirational Ideas of Things to Do
A visit to the Air Force Museum off Airport Road in Paya Lebar is an impressive flight of old and new.
The museum is spread over two levels.
On Level 1 is the sheltered outdoor gallery. There is also an open air outdoor gallery.
Level 2 has indoor exhibits that chart the development of the Republic of Singapore Air Force and more details of the role that it plays and the men and women who defend the skies over Singapore.
Then fly into the future with futuristic 3D videos, interactive multimedia stations and simulators that tell the story of how the Republic Singapore Air Force (RSAF) came to be what it is today.
Outdoor Gallery, Level 1: Aircraft On Display at the Air Force Museum
While visitors are encouraged to begin their tour upstairs on Level 2 at the indoor gallery of the Air Force Museum, it is hard to resist the allure of viewing real planes, helicopters, plane engines and missile systems at the Outdoor Gallery on Level 1.
One of the most impressive airplanes on display is the sleek-looking F-5E Tiger. This was Singapore’s first supersonic fighter airplane.
The livery on the tail tells of how it was the guardian of the skies for 36 years from 1979 till its retirement in 2015.
Another noteworthy exhibit is a TA-4S Skyhawk with a raised platform beside it so that kids can look easily inside the two-seater plane’s cockpit.
You can peer inside to have a good look.
It is not just fixed winged aircraft on display at the Air Force Museum outdoor gallery. There is the Bell UH-1 Huey helicopter and other pieces of equipment such as missile systems on display too.
This French-built Alouette III helicopter was one of eight which formed the RSAF’s first helicopter squadron in 1969.
It is sure to be fascinating for kids.
Visitors can get a good close up look at various air defence systems as well as training aircraft that was used by the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
Look up at the ceiling and you will be able to spot a Cessna 172K, typically thought of as a civilian aircraft. Interestingly, a single Cessa 172H, loaned from the Singapore Flying Club, was how the air force started out in 1968.
Indoor Gallery of the Air Force Museum, Level 2
Take the stairs of the lift upstairs to the indoor gallery on the second level, and you’ll get whizzed forward in time.
In cool air-conditioned comfort, take in a brief history of the Air Force from the 1960s to the present. Amongst the items on display include RSAF uniforms of the past.
A big digital console is the centrepiece of the first room. Using a multimedia touchscreen display, visitors can learn more about the aircraft used by the RSAF.
Jet your way to the left and you will arrive at the next section of the Air Force Museum.
This section displays the organisation and make up of today’s air force, providing an overview of the role that each part of the organisation plays.
Visitors, both adults and children, will enjoy what is clearly a highlight at the Air Force Museum: A huge three-player multimedia simulator where you can fly a plane and execute combat manoeuvres, with a realistic panoramic screen.
The other exhibits that can be view at this section of the indoor gallery include miniature aircraft models.
There is also a heat-seeking missile, assuringly marked “INERT”, on display.
Step into the next section to get a view of the outdoor gallery below. From this “cockpit”, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the planes and other aviation equipment on display at the outdoor gallery on the first floor.
The museum also highlights the role of support aircraft like the C-130 Hercules and the now-retired Super Puma helicopter.
You can also try taking a seat on one of the jumpseats you would find on a transport plane.
A short film showcases the vigilance of the RSAF and its personnel in defending Singapore’s airspace in order to keep the country safe.
The last section of the RSAF Air Force Museum highlights the role of the men and women who make up the organisation.
It is a chance to take in and understand more about how the service men and service women of the air force play a vital role in keeping Singapore safe for all of us.
Museum Shop and Open Air Outdoor Gallery
Before you leave the Air Force Museum, you may wish to pop by the Air Force Museum shop on Level 1, next to the aircraft display. Inside the museum gift shop, you will find models of aircraft as well as souvenirs such as caps.
You can also take the opportunity to pay a visit to the open air outdoor display. Amongst the aircraft on display here are the E2C Hawkeye early warning aircraft.
There is also a Super Puma helicopter painted in red and white livery.
A visit to the Air Force Museum is a chance to under the heritage of the Republic of Singapore Air Force and to gain an appreciation for the role that it plays. Kids will also relish the chance to get upclose to real aircraft and even play the simulator game.
RSAF Air Force Museum
Where: 400 Airport Road, Singapore 534234
Opening Hours
Tuesday to Saturday: 9 am to 4 pm (Closed on Closed on Sundays, Mondays, Public Holidays, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve & Lunar New Year’s Eve.)
Air Force Museum Website
If you enjoyed this story, we think that you may also reading about the Navy Museum in Singapore.
