German Air Force to secure RSAF base security.
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Singapore wants German airforce
From correspondents in Singapore
August 30, 2004
THE highly modern Singapore Air Force plans to import aggressive hawks from Germany to help scare off birds which can cause fighters to crash if sucked into jet engines, a report said.
A Harris hawk seconded for military duties from a wildlife amusement park has failed to live up to its mission, prompting the air force to consider enlisting German goshawks known for their tenacity and strength.
"You simply can't risk life, and the aircraft are expensive," Lieutenant Colonel Penny Ang, commanding officer of the Tengah Air Base flying support squadron, told the Straits Times newspaper.
The biggest problem is the migratory egret that appears between September and November. Singapore, a leafy island dotted by nature reserves and water catchments, has a sizeable population of birds even in the city center.
About 10 "bird strikes" are recorded monthly in four bases and pilots have felt the shock of birds hitting their aircraft, the report said. So far, only minor aircraft damage has been reported, but officials are taking no chances.
In addition to birds of prey, the air force also uses flares, digitally recorded bird distress calls, pesticides to kill insects eaten by birds, and a chemical repellant dispenser activated by SMS text messages from the control tower whenever unwelcome avian guests are spotted on the runway.
Agence France-Presse -
A little off topic... but anyone knows the gender of Ltc Penny Ang? If it is a female, must be quite siao-on/garang to be promoted to Ltc man! Last count there were only 4 in the Army....
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use AAM against the birds lar. (j/k)
umm why not they all use hunting rifle and go around in jeeps and shoot those birds down?
Scarly the RSAF's own goshawk bang into RSAF plane
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The title seems to imply that the hawks belong to the German Airforce and that they are specially trained. Does that mean that the German Airforce have a special hawk unit? Like military dog units in other armies?
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Apparently that's what the Germans have.Imagine, they even have a mountain unit that specialises as border guards/rangers.