Celebrates 100 Years of Aviation 16 Mar 2011

Centennial Celebrations (SACC) was launched at Singapore Aviation Centennial Evening graced by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. Coordinated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), a year-long calendar of exciting and inspiring events and activities will showcase the many achievements of the aviation industry and the myriad of opportunities it offers. On 16 March 1911, a British Bristol Boxkite biplane took off from the old racecourse (Farrer Park). The Bristol Boxkite piloted by Mr. Joseph Christiaens took flight in Singapore on the evening of 16 March 1911 at around 5.30pm. The aircraft did not arrive here by air, but was carried by sea in crates and then assembled by a squad from the Royal Engineers. An airstrip was prepared at the old racecourse (Farrer Park) for demonstration flights. Over three days, Mr Christiaens performed a variety of flying displays and flew passengers paying $50 each one at a time for ten minutes. The Bristol Boxkite was first built in 1910 by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company (later known as the Bristol Aeroplane Company). Powered by a seventy horsepower "Le Rhone" rotary engine, it first flew on 29 July 1910. It went on to become Bristol's first Singapore Aviation Centennial Celebrations were meant to showcase Singapore’s vibrant aviation hub and industry. Singapore celebrated 100 years of aviation on 16^th March, 2011. Singapore aviation has come a long way since Singapore witnessed its first flight exactly 100 years ago.

Depicted on the 1^st local stamp is the first aircraft - a Bristol Box-Kite biplane, piloted by Mr Joseph Christiaens taking off from the racecourse at Farrer Park on 16 March 1911. The 45-cents stamp captured the landing of the Fokker F-VIIA airplane - the first commercial flight into Singapore from Batavia (now Jakarta) at our first civil airport at Seletar on 10 February 1930. Featured on the 65 -cents and 80-cents stamps are the Airspeed Consul at Kallang Airport and the F-15SG against the backdrop of Paya Lebar Airport respectively. The S$1.10 stamp depicted Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A380 and the Changi Airport. The Changi Airport had several firsts, including being the world’s largest airport and having the world’s largest column-free hanger at 20,000 square metres when it opened on 29 December 1981. My friend Wang Lee sent me this cover.