Langkawi (Malysia)

LIMA, the Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition

11 - 24 March 2015

From 17-21 March 2015 the 13th edition of LIMA, the Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition, took place at the

tropical island of Langkawi in the upper north of Malaysia. The show, which is getting bigger and bigger every year, consists of

a trade-exposition in a purpose-built facility at the Langkawi airport, a static display and aerial demonstrations at the civil

Langkawi airport as well as naval demonstrations and a large number of navy ships that are anchored off the Langkawi coast.

Langkawi Island
Langkawi is a great place for the event with sufficient accommodation. The island is offering great beaches, plenty of

restaurants and bars and a nice scenery. The island can be reached by air from Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Singapore.

Air Asia has seven daily flights from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi while Malaysia Air Lines has five and Fire Fly one. In

addition Fire Fly has two daily flights from Penang. Air Asia, Malaysia Airlines, Tiger Air and Silk Air are also frequently

flying between Singapore and Langkawi. The island can also be reached by ferry from Kuala Perlis to Kuah. The crossing

takes about 2 hours and costs 18 Ringit for pedestrians (less than five Euros). Once at the island hotels are available at

various price ranges and also food is generally very cheap compared to Western European standards.

The weather at Langkawi is fantastic, nice blue skies but very, very hot and humid. Temperature rises up to 35°C but it feels

much warmer than that. March is the dry season in Langkawi but it is still possible to have more than 200mm rain during

the month including some heavy rain showers and thunderstorms. Fortunately this edition of LIMA was blessed with

marvellous weather!

The event
The event, consisting of three trade days and two public days, kicked off on 17 March. Aircraft, mainly the demonstration

teams and their support aircraft, started arriving from about 11 March. Rehearsals for the flying display mainly took place

over the weekend of 14-15 March, although the air power demonstration was rehearsed from 13-16 March in the early

morning with the routine being practiced two times on every occasion. On 14 March the air power demonstration was even

rehearsed both AM and PM.

The event was officially opened at 08:30 hrs on Tuesday 17 March by the extensively rehearsed air power demonstration

by the Malaysian Air Force. On trade days the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC) situated at Langkawi

airport was opened from 10:00 until 17:30 hrs. This year the flying display took place from 12:30 until 14:30 hrs. The air

power demonstration only took place on the opening day. In addition to the flying display at MIEC, maritime displays

took place at Langkawi World Resorts situated at Porto Malai from 15:30 until 16:30 hrs and this included an anti-terrorism

demonstration featuring an RMN Lynx and two Fennecs, a SAR demonstration by a Malaysian Coast Guard Dauphin and

a firefighting demonstration by a Coast Guard CL-415.

The public days took place on 20 and 21 March and featured the full flying programme. A press day was organised on the

day before the opening and included a rather short walkabout of the static display. In addition a sun-rise photo-shoot

was organised on the last trading day. Unfortunately you were facing the upcoming sun when you wanted to shoot

head-on pictures of the aircraft on the ramp.

Photo opportunities at Langkawi
Langkawi airport offers some great photo opportunities, especially in the morning. Due to the proximity of Malaysia

to the equator the light is becoming a challenge after noon. In the morning various spots can be chosen along the 3,800

meters long runway opposite the tower. It is possible to take pictures over the fence from many elevated positions, some

with great backdrops. A viewing point situated on a hill some 100 meters above sea-level offers a spectacular view and a

nice angle on the aircraft participating in the flying display, especially those participating in the air power demonstration!

As the air power demonstration takes place some 1,5 hours after sunrise the light is fantastic!

Aircraft movements & flying programme
Air show movements commenced on 11 March. Unfortunately many interesting support aircraft departed after dropping

off their cargo and passengers, only to return after the public days. However, many visiting aircraft could be seen

throughout the show as well. A two-day conference between the Asian Ministers of Defence took place from 15-17 March

resulting in a number of interesting VIP aircraft. This year’s event started with an incident during the rehearsals on 15

March, when two Team Jupiter KT-1B Wongbees collided in mid-air resulting in both aircraft crashing elsewhere on the

island. Fortunately the four occupants managed to eject to safety and despite that one aircraft crashed into a house and

a parked car, nobody on the ground got hurt. Unfortunately a cat inside the house burned to death, presumably it had

expended its nine lives in earlier incidents. The four unfortunate Jupiter pilots were transported to the Langkawi hospital

for observation. Following the crash Team Jupiter withdrew from the show and the remaining six aircraft departed the

following day.

In addition to the extensively mentioned air power display this year’s air show consisted of a solo demonstration by a

RMAF Su-30MKM, FAF Rafale, USAF F-16CJ, the Malaysian Kris Sakti demonstration team, Al Fursan with their MB 339s,

the August 1 J10s and the RSAF Black Knight demonstration team synchro-pair with two F-16Cs. Unfortunately the

Russian Knights withdrew a few weeks before the event.

The most disappointing absentees were the MiG-29Ns of the RMAF. In previous years they formed the Smokey Bandits

demonstration team. Due to the upcoming retirement of the Fulcrums they were not on the list this year. One would have

hoped for at least a single aircraft in the static display, but this hope was in vain. What was really remarkable was that four

MiG-29s were present at nearby Butterworth for an exercise! Butterworth was used for the aircraft participating in the air

power demonstration so people that went there could enjoy two MiG-29s flying a daily mission in the late morning.

Langkawi airport

Static:
A32-348	Beech 350	32sq	arr 17, dep 19

72

Falcon Gardian

25S

arr 17, local flight 19

P-862

CN235-200MPA

SkU800

arr 13, dep 22

Kh20K-2/54 70102

JAS39D

701sq

arr 15, dep 21

1208

P180

UAE AF

arr 12

83-0046/ZZ

F-15D

67th FS

arr 13, dep 23

83-0047/ZZ

F-15D

67th FS

arr 13, dep 23

166917/NF-102

F/A-18F

VFA-102

arr 15, dep 23

166888/NF-111

F/A-18F

VFA-102

arr 15, dep 23

168036/VT-01

UH-1Y

HMLA-367

arr 17 by C-17A

167025/TA-05

MH-60R

HSM-51

arr 16, dep 21

168439/LN

P-8A

VP-45

arr 15, dep 22

M23-01

S-61A-4 mod

TDM

arr 17, digital c/s

M23-31

S-61A-4 mod

TDM

arr 19, digital c/s

M34-20

MB339CD

3FTC

arr 17, dep 22

M40-31

Hawk Mk208

6 Skn

arr 17, dep 22

M44-06

CN235-220M

21 Skn

arr <14

M45-07

F/A-18D

18 Skn

arr 17, dep 21

M52-10

Su-30MKM

11 Skn

arr <14, dep 22

M54-01

A400M

22 Skn

arr 17, dep 21

M55-03

EC725AP

10 Skn

arr <14, dep 22

M70-02

AS365N3

APMM

arr 14

M72-03

AW139

APMM

arr 14?

M81-05

A109LOH

881 Skn

arr 16, dep 22

M101-02

King Air 350i

PLTT/Aerotree

also flying

M501-6

Super Lynx Mk300

501 Skn

arr 13

9M-BOC

AW139

Bomba

arr 14

9M-PSH

PC-6/B2-H4

Polis Diraja

arr 15

9M-FCL

Lj60

Dept of Civ. Avn.

Avn. arr 16, dep 22

9M-MKZ

Ce208B

Rayani Air

D-ETPG

Grob 120TP

Grob Aircraft

D-FHHH

Grob 520NG

Grob Aircraft

N163FJ

Falcon 7X

Dassault Aviation

N369FF

MD530G

MD Helicopters

C-FCPF

Bell 429WLG

Bell Helicopters

9M-WSS

AW189

Agusta Westland

9M-AHX

A320-216

Air Asia

N871EU

Beech 350i

Hawker Pacific

N570RZ

Ce680

Hawker Pacific

N615BA

CL-605

Boeing

N7637M

S-76D

Sikorsky Helicopters

S2-AEK

P180

nn

Flightline/flying:
113/104-RI	Rafale C	EC 03.030	arr 12

328/104-IC

Rafale B

EC 03.030

arr 12

91-0382/WW

F-16CM

13th FS

arr 13, dep 23

92-3912/WW

F-16CM

13th FS

arr 13, dep 23

M52-09

Su-30MKM

11 Skn

arr 17, dep 22

M52-11

Su-30MKM

11 Skn

arr <14, dep 22

M52-16

Su-30MKM

11 Skn

arr <14, dep 22

M55-01

EC725AP

10 Skn

arr <14, dep22

M55-02

EC725AP

10 Skn

arr <14

M55-08

EC725AP

10 Skn

arr <14

M70-01*

AS365N3

APMM

arr 14,

M71-01*

CL-415MP

APMM

arr 14

M501-5*

Super Lynx Mk100

501 Skn

arr 13

M502-2*

AS555SN

502 Skn

M502-4*

AS555SN

502 Skn

M994-02

Mi-8MTV-1

Bomba

arr 13, SAR alert

9M-PHB

AS355F2

Polis Diraja

elsewhere

9M-PHE

AS355F2

Polis Diraja

elsewhere

Rafale B 328/104-IC was used for incentive flights. Aircraft marked with ‘*’ were used for the maritime demo at Porto

Malai.

MB339NAT of Al Fursan (UAE AF):
440/1, 432/2, 435/3, 430/4, 434/5, 439/6, 436/7, 438/-

J10AY/SY of August 1 (PLAAF):
02 J10AY0509, 03 J10AY0510, 04 J10AY0511, 06 J10AY0513, 07

J10AY0514, 10 J10SY0208, 12 J10SY0210

KT-1B Wongbee of Team Jupiter (TNI-AU):
LD0115/1, LD0116/2, LD0108/3, LD0114/4, LD0101/5, LD0103/6,

LD0113/7, LD0117/8

Numbers 5 & 6 collided on 15 March during a practice flight and, contrary to what was reported in the media (including

Scramble 431 – page 60) both crashed on the island several kilometres from the airport, so not on the airport itself.

F-16C of the Black Knights (RSingAF):
608/1, 610/5, 645/6

Extra 300L of Kris Sakti (RMAF):
1/M100-1, 2, 3, 4

An air power demonstration was staged for the opening ceremony on 17 March and the public days on 20-21 March. From

13 March the demonstration was practised daily with two subsequent rehearsals taking place within one flight. On the

first day an additional rehearsal took place in the afternoon (also two times). On 13 and 14 March the King Air 350 was a

stand-in for the A400 which was only delivered to Malaysia on 14 March and participated in the rehearsal for the first

time on Sunday 15 March. On 16 March its place in the formation overflight was empty so the aircraft might have been

unserviceable on Monday morning. After the opening ceremony on Tuesday morning the aircraft landed and joined the static display.

Rehearsal air power demonstration 13 March AM:
M34-16, M34-19	MB339CD	3 FTC

M40-01, M40-02

Hawk Mk108

15 Skn

M40-09

Hawk Mk108

15 Skn

M40-27

Hawk Mk208

6 Skn

M40-22, M40-24

Hawk Mk208

15 Skn

M45-02, M45-07

F/A-18D

18 Skn

M52-08, M52-09

Su-30MKM

11 Skn

M52-12, M52-13

Su-30MKM

11 Skn

M55-03, M55-08

EC725AP

10 Skn

M55-10

EC725AP

10 Skn

M101-02

King Air 350i

PLTT

The King Air was a stand-in for the A400M that was not available during the first few days.

Rehearsal air power demonstration 14 March AM:
M34-16, M34-19	MB339CD	3 FTC

M40-01, M40-02

Hawk Mk108

15 Skn

M40-09

Hawk Mk108

15 Skn

M40-27, M40-29

Hawk Mk208

6 Skn

M40-22, M40-24

Hawk Mk208

15 Skn

M45-05, M45-08

F/A-18D

18 Skn

M52-08, M52-09

Su-30MKM

11 Skn

M52-12, M52-13

Su-30MKM

11 Skn

M55-03, M55-08

EC725AP

10 Skn

M55-10

EC725AP

10 Skn

M101-02

King Air 350i

PLTT

Rehearsal air power demonstration 14 March PM:
M34-16, M34-19	MB339CD	3 FTC

M40-01, M40-02

Hawk Mk108

15 Skn

M40-09

Hawk Mk108

15 Skn

M40-27, M40-29

Hawk Mk208

6 Skn

M40-22, M40-24

Hawk Mk208

15 Skn

M45-02, M45-05

F/A-18D

18 Skn

M45-08

F/A-18D

18 Skn

M52-08, M52-09

Su-30MKM

11 Skn

M52-12, M52-13

Su-30MKM

11 Skn

M55-03, M55-08

EC725AP

10 Skn

M55-10

EC725AP

10 Skn

M101-02

King Air 350i

PLTT

Rehearsal air power demonstration 15 March AM:
M34-16, M34-19	MB339CD	3 FTC

M40-01, M40-02

Hawk Mk108

15 Skn

M40-09

Hawk Mk108

15 Skn

M40-27, M40-29

Hawk Mk208

6 Skn

M40-22, M40-24

Hawk Mk208

15 Skn

M45-02, M45-08

F/A-18D

18 Skn

M52-08, M52-09

Su-30MKM

11 Skn

M52-12, M52-13

Su-30MKM

11 Skn

M54-01

A400M

22 Skn

M55-03, M55-08

EC725AP

10 Skn

M55-10

EC725AP

10 Skn

The A400M had just been delivered the previous day!

Rehearsal air power demonstration 16 March AM:
M34-16, M34-19	MB339CD	3 FTC

M40-01, M40-02

Hawk Mk108

15 Skn

M40-09

Hawk Mk108

15 Skn

M40-27, M40-29

Hawk Mk208

6 Skn

M40-22, M40-24

Hawk Mk208

15 Skn

M45-02, M45-05

F/A-18D

18 Skn

M45-08

F/A-18D

18 Skn

M52-08, M52-09

Su-30MKM

11 Skn

M52-12, M52-13

Su-30MKM

11 Skn

M55-03, M55-08

EC725AP

10 Skn

M55-10

EC725AP

10 Skn

Missing this day was the A400M which was presumably unserviceable, however the commentator broadcasted as if

it was actually there!

Air power demo opening ceremony 17 March AM:
M34-16, M34-19	MB339CD	3 FTC

M40-01, M40-02

Hawk Mk108

15 Skn

M40-09

Hawk Mk108

15 Skn

M40-27, M40-29

Hawk Mk208

6 Skn

M40-22, M40-24

Hawk Mk208

15 Skn

M45-02, M45-05

F/A-18D

18 Skn

M45-08

F/A-18D

18 Skn

M52-08, M52-09

Su-30MKM

11 Skn

M52-12, M52-13

Su-30MKM

11 Skn

M54-01

A400M

22 Skn

M55-03, M55-08

EC725AP

10 Skn

M55-10

EC725AP

10 Skn

In the days preceding and after the event the following visitors and support aircraft were seen. Thanks to those that

are credited at the end of this article we believe that the list below is a reasonable picture of what was present between

11-24 March 2015.

Visitors 11 March:
21041	Il-76MD	PLAAF

20543

Il-76MD

PLAAF

0012/F-RBAE

A400M

ET 01.061

M30-12

C-130H-30

20 Skn

The two Ilyushins arrived with the August 1 demonstration team from Bangkok-Don Muang.

Visitors 12 March:
1226	C-17A	UAEAF	dep 13

1215

L-100-30

UAEAF

dep 13

1x

C-135FR

GRV 01.091

Visitors 13 March:
A-1318	C-130H-30	SkU 31/TNI-AU

A-2901

C295M

SkU 2/TNI-AU

721

KC-130B

122sq/RSingAF

735

C-130H

122sq/RSingAF

M37-01

Falcon 900

2 Skn

M30-12

C-130H-30

20 Skn

This day also saw the arrival of Team Jupiter and the Black Knights.

Visitors 14 March:
M30-15	C-130H-30	20 Skn 50 Years mks

M44-08

CN235-220M-VIP

2 Skn

M101-02

King Air 350i

PLTT

9M-PTC

King Air 350

Polis Diraja

Visitors 15 March:
A-7305	B737-4U3	SkU 17/TNI-AU

L8-11/35/60111

C-130H-30

601sq/RTAF

60202/HS-TYR

A320-115X CJ

602sq/RTAF

713

Fokker 50

121sq/RSingAF

59-1499/HH

KC-135R

203rd ARS

dep 16

73-1214

C-12C

USE Bangkok

M30-10

C-130H-30

14 Skn

camo c/s

M37-01

Falcon 900

2 Skn

M44-08

CN235-220M-VIP

2 Skn

M48-02

Global Express

2 Skn

9M-PTA

King Air 350

Polis Diraja

Most of the visitors on this day brought in the Asian Ministers of Defense. The Hawaii ANG KC-135 supported the two

Atsugi Super Hornets and was fitted with a hose-drogue basket.

Visitors 16 March:
A-1320	C-130H-30	SkU31/TNI-AU

A-1326

C-130H-30

SkU31/TNI-AU

A-7306

B737-4U3

SkU17/TNI-AU

98-0051/AK

C-17A

517th AS

73-1214

C-12C

USE Bangkok

M30-10

C-130H-30

20 Skn

camo c/s

M30-12

C-130H-30

20 Skn

M44-08

CN235-220M VIP

2 Skn

M101-02

King Air 350i

PLLT/AeroTree

9M-PTC

King Air 350

Polis Diraja

A7-CJA

A319-133LR

Qatar Airways

The Indonesian Hercules were the outbound support aircraft for the ill-fated Team Jupiter aircraft that withdrew from

LIMA following the accident the previous day. The USAF C-17 delevered the UH-1Y for the static display.

Visitors 17 March:
713	Fokker 50	121sq/RSingAF

60202/HS-TYR

A320-115X(CJ)

602sq/Thai AF

73-1214

C-12C

USE Bangkok

M30-04

C-130H-30

14 Skn

M30-05

C-130H-30

14 Skn

M30-10

C-130H-30

20 Skn

camo c/s

M30-11

C-130H-30

20 Skn

M30-15

C-130H-30

20 Skn

50 Years mks

M30-16

C-130H-30

20 Skn

M44-08

CN235-220M VIP

2 Skn

M81-03

A109LOH

881 Skn

M81-07

A109LOH

881 Skn

M101-01

King Air 350i

PLTT

arr this day?

A7-CJA

A319-133LR

Qatar Airways

A7-CJB

A319-133LR

Qatar Airways

…

King Air 350

Polis Diraja

Visitors 18 March:
A-7305	B737-4U3	SkU 17/TNI-AU

713

Fokker 50

121sq/RSingAF

61-0020/LA

B-52H

20th BS

fly-by

M30-04

C-130H-30

14 Skn

M30-05

C-130H-30

14 Skn

M30-10

C-130H-30

14 Skn

camo c/s

M30-15

C-130H-30

20 Skn

50 Years mks

M30-16

C-130H-30

20 Skn

M37-01

Falcon 900

2 Skn

M44-05

CN235-200M

not noted

M48-02

Global Express

2 Skn

9M-PTA

King Air 350

Polis Diraja

Visitors 19 March:
725	KC-130B	122sq/RSingAF

M30-04

C-130H-30

14 Skn

M30-10

C-130H-30

14 Skn

camo c/s

M30-12

C-130H-30

20 Skn

M30-15

C-130H-30

20 Skn

50 Years mks

M30-16

C-130H-30

20 Skn

M44-08

CN235-220M VIP

2 Skn

M81-07

A109LOH

881 Skn

M101-01

King Air 350i

PLTT/Aerotree

Visitors 20 March:
2113	ERJ135LR	201sq/RTN

M30-04

C-130H-30

14 Skn

M30-12

C-130H-30

20 Skn

M30-15

C-130H-30

20 Skn

50 Years mks

M30-16

C-130H-30

20 Skn

9M-PSO

Ce406

Polis Diraja

Visitors 21 March:
L8-6/31/60106	C-130H-30	601sq/RTAF

2113

ERJ135LR

201sq/RTN

M30-05

C-130H-30

14 Skn

M30-10

C-130H-30

14 Skn

M30-12

C-130H-30

20 Skn

M30-15

C-130H-30

20 Skn

50 Years mks

M30-16

C-130H-30

20 Skn

M101-01

King Air 350i

PLTT/Aerotree

9M-PSO

Ce406

Polis Diraja

Visitors 22 March:
21041	Il-76MD	PLAAF	dep 23

20543

Il-76MD

PLAAF

dep 23

0010/F-RBAC

A400M

ET 01.061

dep 23

61-0309

KC-135R

126th ARS

dep 23

M30-05

C-130H-30

14 Skn

M30-16

C-130H-30

20 Skn

M44-08

CN235-220M VIP

2 Skn

M101-01

King Air 350i

PLTT/Aerotree

Visitors 23 March:
725	KC-130B	122sq/RSingAF

M30-16

C-130H-30

20 Skn

1x

C-17A

USAF

74-1669/YJ

C-130H

36th AS

Visitors 25 March:
1215	L-100-30	UAEAF	dep ..

Visitors 26 March:
1x	C-17A	UAEAF	dep 27

This concludes the LIMA movements for this edition.

However, on 26 March the Rafales reappeared supported by the A400M to depart again on 27 March.

Credits: Paul van der Linden, Remco Broersma, Dietmar Fenners, Arno Kok, Micha Lievers, Joost Michiels, Mark Rourke (via Mil-Spotters)

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