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SPEECH BY MR HAWAZI DAIPI, PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION & MINISTRY OF MANPOWER FOR THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE INAUGURAL SINGAPORE NATIONAL AEROMODELLING ASSOCIATION扴 AEROMODELLING CHAMPIONSHIP ON SATURDAY, 16 AUGUST 2003, AT 1000 HRS AT THE POTONG PASIR CC FLYING SITE, TUAS

Presidents of the Aeromodelling Clubs;

Members of the Organising Committee of the inaugural Singapore Aeromodelling Association Championship;

Distinguished Guests;

Aeromodellers;

Ladies and Gentlemen,

        A very good morning to all of you and welcome to the month-long inaugural Singapore National Aeromodelling Championship 2003.

2        I am pleased to see the seven aeromodelling clubs in Singapore coming together to organise this inaugural Singapore National Aeromodelling Championship under the auspices of the Singapore National Aeromodelling Association. It is indeed heartening to see that Aeromodelling has such a strong following here in Singapore. What is also interesting is the fact that this championship is held in the year of the centenary anniversary of the first powered flight by the Wright brothers on 17 Dec 1903.

3        Aeromodelling is an interesting and exciting sport where enthusiasts can design, construct and fly model aircraft. For the young, it offers a healthy and educational pastime for they will learn more about aerodynamics, the theory of flight and associated aviation subjects like avionics and metal-work.

4        There are some 700 aeromodellers in Singapore presently and 80% of them are in the Ministry of Education's Secondary School Co-Curricular (CCA) programme which was launched in January 2001. I am very pleased to note that there are 16 Singapore Youth Flying Clubs (SYFC) with 500 pupils in the programme now. Next year, another 4 Secondary Schools will join the programme and if the current level of enrolment continues, there will be about 1200 aeromodellers in this programme by 2007. All these students will also enjoy the benefits of a full aeromodelling workshop and flying facilities which are being developed by SYFC.

5        With increased participation and better facilities, there will be plenty of opportunities for our aeromodellers to hone their skills as they compete among themselves in Inter-School and National Competitions. Champions from these competitions will represent our Nation at the World Aeromodelling Championships. It would not be too long before our aspiring young aeromodellers bring back a gold medal for Singapore. The future of Aeromodelling in Singapore is indeed very bright.

6        I am also very happy to see our overseas friends from Indonesia, Japan, Hong Kong and Canada present here today to support this championship as participants, judges and aeromodelling demonstrators. Their participation adds an international flavour to this event and I hope they have a wonderful and enriching experience during their stay here.

7        The Wright brothers' 59-second flight in 1903 covered 852 feet at a speed of about 34 miles per hour. Today, 100 years after this tentative but bold attempt at flight, we now commute routinely on modern jetliners that traverse the surface of the globe at speeds thousands of miles per hour. Indeed, aeromodellers, too, have at their disposal a wide range of gadgets, developed no doubt by enthusiasts who have been inspired by the Wright brothers and other pioneers, to enhance their enjoyment of the hobby. The Aeromodelling Championships that will commence today are indeed a celebration of the first flight that paved the way for the tremendous progress in aviation.

8        And with that I would like to officially declare the inaugural National Aeromodelling Championship 2003 open.