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214 articles
1968/09 - Birth of the Singapore Air Defence Command (1968 - 1975 Mar) (SADC)
Training Aircraft
Cessna 172K
Year
1968
Singapore’s Air Force began in 1968 with two Cessnas, pioneering staff, and a mission to fill Britain’s air defence role.
First generation (1968 to 1984)
1968/11 - First helicopter
Helicopters
Alouette III
Year
1968
Singapore’s first Alouette III helicopters formed 120 Squadron for transport, rescue, and Army support missions.
First generation (1968 to 1984)
1969/01 - Technicians to call our own
Year
1969
Singapore set up technical schools to train local SADC technicians, aiming to replace British personnel within two years.
First generation (1968 to 1984)
1969/03 - Training our Pioneer Air Defenders
Year
1969
In 1969, SADC trained its first local Air Traffic and Air Defence Controllers, aiming for self-reliance before the RAF's full withdrawal.
First generation (1968 to 1984)
1969/04 - First operational control unit
Year
1969
SADC took over Seletar Aerodrome; by 1971, all ATC units islandwide were run by trained Singaporean personnel.
First generation (1968 to 1984)
1969/05 - First aircraft purchase and first batch of pilots
Training Aircraft
Cessna 172K
Year
1969
SADC received its first purchased aircraft—eight Cessna 172Ks—to train Singapore’s pioneer batch of 37 local pilots.
First generation (1968 to 1984)
1969/08 - SAF Flying Training School (TFS)
Year
1969
The SAF Flying Training School was set up to train SADC pilots; 37 were selected from over 500 applicants.
First generation (1968 to 1984)
1969/10 - First Jet Trainer
Training Aircraft
British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) 167 Strikemaster
Year
1969
16 Strikemaster jets arrived at Tengah, forming 130 Squadron to train SADC’s first fighter pilots.
First generation (1968 to 1984)
1969/12 - The first batch of technicians
Year
1969
The SAF School of Technical Training produced the first locally trained technicians to service and maintain SADC aircraft.
First generation (1968 to 1984)
1970/06 - First anti aircraft guns
Air Defence Systems
35mm Oerlikon
Super Fledermaus
Year
1970
SADC acquired 24 Oerlikon 35mm guns for air defence, forming the basis of today’s 160 Squadron.
First generation (1968 to 1984)
