LIMA 2019, Langkawi Malaysia 29-30 March

[Adam]

@@jm1g and @Bokimon you're in luck. LIMA have posted in a Facebook comment that the Russian Knights are coming and there will be an official announcement later.

[Bokimon]

^ wONDERFUL!!
The Knights are one of the big ones I have always wanted to see.. I am still trying to book tickets online but their website is quite slow to update.

[Adam]

Russian Knights officially added! Probably a 5-ship display.

Latest aircraft list: http://thisisflight.net/airshow-guides/ ... raft-list/

[jm1g]

Excellent news. Can’t wait.
@@Adam , what do you think of this plan?

I will be arriving on the morning of the 29th via ferry, and plan to go to site B/C on your guide to catch the afternoon flying display. Won’t be taking binoculars or a camera, so I’m guessing site C is too far away?

Also on the morning or the 30th, is it worth watching the first display from outside ( b or c?) rather than being stuck in a queue at the enterance.

Will hiring a scooter/motorbike help get through the traffic quicker?

Thanks for all the info.
Jack

[Adam]

Sounds like a plan to me, Jack.

I know site C is very popular, but more as a long-lens photography sort of place than a general viewing area. I went up there one evening to take a look and decided that, with my 20x zoom, it was probably too far away, so I never went back. But I can assure you site B is astonishingly good - right under the heart of the action. I guarantee it won't disappoint! There's a couple of areas along the fenceline near my Site B marker where you get a build-up of spectators and I imagine they are all pretty similar, the one closest to show centre is the one I have marked on the map.

I definitely think going off-base on the morning of the 30th sounds like a good idea. The light is really bad on-base for the morning show, you're looking right at the sun. After the morning display you've then got a couple of hours to whip round to the other side of the airport and get inside the showground. Tight, but doable.

This video is taken from the field I labelled as Site B. It's pretty damn good!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTZFyYh-kv4
If you're having trouble locating it, the lat/long coordinates are 6.334923, 99.734346.

I can't really comment on the scooter option, I wasn't paying close enough attention to the traffic management, which I regretted when I came to write the airshow guide. But logically I'd imagine it must be a good idea. I certainly wouldn't rely on any shuttle buses or public transport, if that is your alternative. A scooter will also be really easy to park at an off-base viewing area.

[Adam]

List updated.

Krisakti now performing with one Extra 300 only (update - the pilot will be UK aerobatic ace Mark Jefferies). The RSAF A330 MRTT is cancelled.

http://www.limaexhibition.com/download/ ... s_2019.pdf

[Adam]

Some very promising tweets coming out lately. This one shows eight (!) Flankers practicing for the opening ceremony on Tuesday 26th. The RMAF only had four airworthy Flankers this time last year.
https://twitter.com/airforcenextgen/sta ... 8488275969

I'm guessing this A400M and x6 PC-7 formation will be part of the Tuesday opening ceremony.
https://twitter.com/Haziq_Escobar/statu ... 4992805889

Some of the participating Hawks will wear special tails to celebrate 25 years of RMAF service.
https://twitter.com/kiat564/status/1105023409228926977

And here is one of an F/A-18D solo display practice, which will perform every day. Flares!
https://twitter.com/airforcenextgen/sta ... 3809113088

[Bokimon]

I SAW THOSE TWEETS!

This show will be a Su 30MK gongshow if it will be 8 Malays and 6 or so Russians..
I guess this one will not have any civil airliner flypasts like in other year eh.
Weather already looks quite hot and sticky, standing out all day in that heat will be a real challenge, but challenge accepted.

[Adam]

More tweets...

The mass formations for the opening ceremony on the 26th are looking EPIC! x3 Flanker, x2 Hornets, x5 Hawks followed by A400M & x8 PC-7s. The PC-7s have coloured smoke. I guess on the basis of previous performances that this will come towards the end of the display, with the smaller elements comprising single aircraft types performing individually at the start.
https://twitter.com/khairi_ksn/status/1 ... 2372999168

The Hawks practicing their own moves.
https://twitter.com/airforcenextgen/sta ... 4050868224

Three A400Ms also rehearsing together.
https://twitter.com/nazinajmi/status/11 ... 4727578624

More from the rehearsals. F/A-18D dropping flares, three Hawks, another look at the A400M/PC-7 formation and three EC-725s. Last year the helicopters performed as a pair and a solo so nice to see they're bringing all three together this time.
https://twitter.com/airforcenextgen/sta ... 7011100672

Another set from the opening ceremony rehearsals. It looks like there will be plenty of Flanker action, including some aerobatics.
https://twitter.com/airforcenextgen/sta ... 9911967744

[Bokimon]

Wonderful!!

Adam, do you have any idea of the direction of flight and angle of the sun?
8am area if that is when things will start, the sun does look quite high and I will be at spot C I think it was over looking the airfield near that upside down house to spot that morning. The hawk practise the light looked more golden, so maybe that was 8am?
As good as it was I still think 2017 was better when it had some airliners added into the mix for the flybys.

And is humidity going to be an issue over there? I'm not sure what clothes to bring..no synthetics i suppose