RSAF jets scramble to intercept civilian aircraft

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Two Aussies helping with police probe

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[flyguy]

do the RSAF need to close 50 mins of airspace time for this - as once airborne they can identify n communicate with the cessna pilot; and also seems strange that RSAF asked the cessna to land in Changi - instead of seletar (as even in the unlikely event that it is on some "terror mission" at least it doesnt affect the whole Changi). And with the F16s - it would have a hard time slowing down to the cessna speed - which the RSAF can use even its Apache choppers to intercept the cessna - as from RSAF's radar which injitially spotted the cessna, the IFF and flight display would identify the plane as a small cessna.

[SuperJonJon]

do the RSAF need to close 50 mins of airspace time for this - as once airborne they can identify n communicate with the cessna pilot; and also seems strange that RSAF asked the cessna to land in Changi - instead of seletar (as even in the unlikely event that it is on some "terror mission" at least it doesnt affect the whole Changi). And with the F16s - it would have a hard time slowing down to the cessna speed - which the RSAF can use even its Apache choppers to intercept the cessna - as from RSAF's radar which injitially spotted the cessna, the IFF and flight display would identify the plane as a small cessna.

If I guess correctly, the 2 F16Ds that were scrambled are based in Changi Air Base (East). Thus the Cessna was diverted to Changi.

Apaches are not designed for interception of aircrafts and the runway at their home base would be too short for landing a cessna.

[flyguy]

Dont think the F16s are based in Changi as that RSAF base is used for its KC135 and F50 aircrafts. The Apaches are based in sembawang and can intercept the cessna as its flight speed is even higher than the cessna's and they should direct the cessna to land at seletar - and should not be changi in the uneventful event that will cause chnagi to be out-of-operation temporarily. Still curious as to why it takes RSAF to close all airspace for 50 mins esp changi.

[SuperJonJon]

Dont think the F16s are based in Changi as that RSAF base is used for its KC135 and F50 aircrafts. The Apaches are based in sembawang and can intercept the cessna as its flight speed is even higher than the cessna's and they should direct the cessna to land at seletar - and should not be changi in the uneventful event that will cause chnagi to be out-of-operation temporarily. Still curious as to why it takes RSAF to close all airspace for 50 mins esp changi.

Changi Air Base (East) houses 145 sqn which flies the block F16Ds. The other lot of F16s are on the other side of the island.

Apaches are only loaded with hellfire and hydra unguided missles which are for Air-To-Ground thus if the apaches need to shoot down the plane they only had machine guns.

[otnaicus]

SuperJonJon is right.. Apaches are mainly ground attack aircraft and their primary role is to support ground troops. Maybe that's why in the US, it's operated by the US Army, rather than the Air Force. So an Apache would not have been the wisest choice when it comes to the interception of aircrafts.

My two cents...

[flyguy]

guess so - but its just a small cessna plane - which i thought the F16s would have a harder time flying at the slow cessna speed.

[SINFJ]

Dont think the F16s are based in Changi as that RSAF base is used for its KC135 and F50 aircrafts. The Apaches are based in sembawang and can intercept the cessna as its flight speed is even higher than the cessna's and they should direct the cessna to land at seletar - and should not be changi in the uneventful event that will cause chnagi to be out-of-operation temporarily. Still curious as to why it takes RSAF to close all airspace for 50 mins esp changi.

not sure if seletar is equiped to do night landing

[Danny Bhoy]

guess so - but its just a small cessna plane - which i thought the F16s would have a harder time flying at the slow cessna speed.

In these situations, fighter jets are used all the time since at the time of scramble they usually aren't too certain of the type of bogey. Could be a slow moving jet and if so scrambling a gunship is a bit pointless. Also can't see air forces around the world holding onto a squadron of Sopwith Camels or P-51s just to intercept rogue Cessnas or Jetrangers.

And once they ID the bogey, I'm sure they have ways of holding contact that won't require them to slow too dangerously close to their stall speeds. Like flying figure of eights round the offender or something.

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Plane behind security alert was on 'test flight'

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[Greatfox]

it would be INCREDIBLY hard for the apache to hit a plane with it's cannon, the gunsight alone isn't set properly for AA fire. Also, this plane was a tuboprop, easy for the F-16 to keep pace with at cruise speed when you consider that they routinely fly "heritage flights" in the US, in formation with piston-engined WWII aircraft such as P-51 fighters

[flyguy]

from malaysia's Star newspaper report today 27/1/08 :

Singapore informed by DCA of Cessna flight

PETALING JAYA: The Department of Civil Aviation informed its Singapore counterpart of the flight plan of a Cessna 208 plane, which caused a major security alert at Changi Airport on Tuesday.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said the DCA allowed the plane, which took off from Koh Samui in Thailand to enter Malaysian airspace, as it posed no danger.

“It was just a small plane and we had confirmed that it brought no threat to the country's defence.

“The DCA immediately informed its Singapore counterpart after getting the information from the Thai DCA that the plane was having some problems and needed repairs in Singapore,” he said after attending the memorial service of Prof Dr Wolfgang Franke here yesterday.

Dr Franke, who died in September last year, was a guest professor at the Chinese Faculty, Universiti Malaya where Chan graduated.

It was reported that Singapore scrambled two F-16 fighters to intercept the plane, piloted by two Australians.

The incident caused a major flight disruption at Changi which was forced to close for 50 minutes.

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Police widen probe into air intrusion

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