Red Lions Conducting Test Jumps At Various Parts Of S’pore in Preparation for NDP

Look up in the sky; it’s a bird, it’s a plane! 

Or in this case, a Red Lion!

On Thursday (15 July), some lucky members of the public bore witness to a parachuting display that saw the Red Lions doing test jumps across various locations in Singapore, in preparation for the National Day Parade (NDP). 

Here’s what happened. 

Red Lions Conducting Test Jumps At Various Parts Of S’pore in Preparation for NDP

During one of the test jumps, a field across the road from the Ghim Moh Road Market & Food Centre was demarcated by yellow barriers and a tent, along with military personnel. 

There was a crowd of around 40 people at the scene, who saw five Red Lions emerging from an aircraft high above in the sky. 

Opening their parachutes, they descended down onto the field. 

There was also a smaller group of around 10 people over in Bishan in an open area near Junction 8 shopping mall who were watching the Red Lions. 

Some of the people present at the scene were friends and family of the Red Lions. 

The Red Lions will be making jumps at various heartland locations on 7 and 8 August in celebration of National Day. 

The actual sites of landing for the NDP have not yet been released, but the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) said that they would be conducting suitability assessment jumps from today (15 July) to 29 July. 

The SAF had earlier announced, “The public is advised not to be alarmed and to keep clear of restricted areas within these regions for their safety.”

This is the second time that the Red Lions are planning to make their descent in the heartland for NDP.

Last year, they landed near Sengkang General Hospital and Ng Teng Fong General Hospital as part of a tribute to frontline workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

NDP 2021 executive committee chairman, Brigadier-General (BG) Tan Cheng Kwee had shared that this year’s aerial display will include Republic of Singapore Air Force fighter jets and Chinook helicopters. 

You will also be able to look forward to fireworks displays in certain residential areas. 

This year, spectators will be invited to the NDP, instead of the usual practice of balloting for tickets which is open to all members of the public. 

Frontline workers, individuals in essential roles, and community volunteers will be on the invitation list. 

According to BG Tan, the list also includes teachers, transport workers, cleaners, and hawkers, among others. 

The selection is slated to be carried out in mid-July. 

The Marina Bay floating platform will take a significantly reduced volume of spectators in light of COVID-19 restrictions, and spectators have to go for pre-event COVID-19 testing. 

Learn more about that here.

Featured Image: Youtube (The Straits Times)