[By GuanchaNet Columnist Chen Feng]
Thanks to an unexpected opportunity, I came to Langkawi to watch the airshow. I have never been to Southeast Asia before, and this was also a chance for me to experience the local charm.
The Langkawi Airshow took place from May 20th to 24th. The 20th, 21st, and 22nd were professional days, while the 23rd and 24th were public days. Compared to the Zhuhai Airshow, the ticket threshold for professional days at the Langkawi Airshow is not high; one just needs to pay extra to enter. I originally planned to watch the airshow for several consecutive days like at the Zhuhai Airshow, but Langkawi is not Zhuhai. In the end, I only watched the opening ceremony on the 20th and spent the rest of my time exploring the island. It must be said that Langkawi is a fantastic tourist destination worth visiting.
Andaman Sea
As regional aviation events, the Langkawi Airshow and the Singapore Airshow are held alternately each year, operating in a manner similar to the Paris Air Show and Farnborough Airshow in Europe. However, unlike France and the UK, Malaysia and Singapore do not have indigenous aerospace industries, and neither country can be considered major air forces. Therefore, who participates in the exhibition and who performs flights has become a barometer of how seriously countries take Southeast Asia.
Some may ask, why does China need to go to Langkawi when we already have the Zhuhai Airshow?
Certainly, the Zhuhai Airshow has grown into a world-class aviation event, becoming an important stage to showcase China's aviation technology strength and global aviation vitality. However, it also has limitations: in Zhuhai, you can only see the lineup dominated by Russia and China. Russian products are even being submerged by a large number of Chinese products. At the same time, it is difficult to fully appreciate Western aviation development in Zhuhai. If you want to see the essence of Western aviation, Paris or Farnborough Airshows are undoubtedly the best choices. If you think Europe is too far away, we can settle for the next best thing and visit Langkawi.
Even before the show began, rumors spread that the Su-57, F-35A, and F-22 would all participate in this year's Langkawi Airshow. Upon hearing this news, I had high expectations, as if it happened, then Langkawi would become one of the few places in the world where American and Russian fifth-generation fighters could compete and perform simultaneously.
Recalling the Bangalore Airshow in India, although the Su-57 and F-35A were both displayed at the same airport, the F-35A backed down due to the reputation of the Su-57 and did not perform any flight demonstrations, ultimately leaving Bogdan to shine alone. But to my disappointment, none of the three fifth-generation fighters—the Su-57, F-35A, and F-22—appeared this time around.
However, because Malaysia purchased the Su-30MKM and MiG-29, Russia decided to send its "Warriors" aerobatic team to show support. Perhaps to compete with the Russians in terms of influence, the US also agreed to send a B-52 to participate in the flight demonstration before the airshow. Although bombers are less maneuverable, their so-called flight demonstration is simply flying over the area. But thinking about the imposing sight of the B-52, an aviation classic with its eight old TF33 turbojet engines spewing thick black smoke, still gave me immense satisfaction. According to plans, the US would also send F/A-18E aircraft to the airshow as a "filler." With such arrangements, I thought this airshow would still yield some results, but reality did not meet my expectations.
Returning to the airshow itself, Langkawi is not only a stage for aerial performances but also an important aviation trade exhibition in the region. Delegations from various countries' aviation and military factories attend. This makes Langkawi a great place for audiences to get up close and personal with well-known military factory brands from East and West. This airshow gathered manufacturers from China, South Korea, India, Turkey, and Iran under one roof, and most of the Western military heavyweights also made appearances. The only absence was the US manufacturer delegation. Despite the numerous exhibitors, unfortunately, the majority of exhibits at this airshow were scale models rather than actual aircraft.
This was unavoidable. Chinese manufacturers can transport various large equipment directly to Zhuhai for the Zhuhai Airshow, but no country can afford to transport large equipment across borders to Langkawi. Even if they ship out stored equipment from Australia, even if the equipment shipped out is smaller in size and weight, such as missiles, the exhibitors will have to pay a high price for the long journey across the ocean. As a result, only the Turkish booth at this Langkawi airshow showcased real firearms and allowed visitors to touch them without worrying about losing the firing pin.
In my opinion, the MPT rifle family exhibited by Turkey this time is quite interesting. Its appearance resembles the M16 very much, but unlike the M16, it adopts a piston-operated system and a rotating bolt. The biggest design feature of this rifle family is its ability to quickly adapt to various caliber bullets. Its modular design allows for quick replacement of barrels and bolts, making it easy to switch between 5.56mm and 7.62mm NATO rounds.
Although no one would carry two sets of barrels and bolts, troops equipped with these rifles are unlikely to switch bullet calibers on the battlefield immediately. However, for troops that need to adapt to different environments, this design will help unify daily training and usage habits. The Turkish army is an example; in operations in Kurdish areas and northern Syria, Turkish soldiers who originally used 5.56mm NATO rounds found that 7.62mm rounds were more effective in mountainous and desert terrain. Being able to quickly replace barrels and bolts will undoubtedly make it easier for soldiers to master the use of these weapons.
In addition, given their successful sale of coastal patrol ships to Malaysia, the Turkish booth focused its display on various ships. Of course, there were also many aircraft models on display, including the famous "Khan" stealth fighter model. Unfortunately, the booth staff were salespeople, and asking technical questions yielded no useful information. I therefore had no opportunity to learn more about the technical details of the "Khan" fighter.
Germany's Diehl Group showcased an IRIS-T short-range surface-to-air missile model, and a former "Tornado" pilot who was now a vendor technician explained to me the difference between the IRIS-T gas rudders and aerodynamic tail fins: the former is more effective during the powered segment, allowing for more intense maneuvers, while the latter is used for control during inertial flight after the gas rudders are largely burned away. However, I believe that the basic design of the IRIS-T is not suitable for dual-thrust configuration and is also unlikely to develop into a medium-range air-to-air missile.
After he finished explaining, I chatted with him for a bit about Trump. From our conversation, I could feel that Europe really struggles with Trump. I also casually mentioned that Canada's air force is caught in a dilemma: a few years ago, they were preparing to purchase F/A-18E aircraft, but Boeing filed a subsidy litigation against Bombardier, forcing Canada to cancel the order. Now, almost finalized on the F-35A, Trump has become Canada's "public enemy," making this procurement highly politically sensitive. But if they delay further, the aging F-18 fleet might encounter problems in the air due to aging at any moment. Saab's "Gripen" and the Eurofighter developed by the joint efforts of Italy, Germany, Spain, and the UK may be potential options for Canada, but the "Gripen" is too lightweight for Canada, with limited firepower and payload, while the "Eurofighter" is too expensive, making neither ideal choices.
Next, I walked over to the French booth and asked about the performance of the "Rafale" in the Indo-Pakistani air combat. The French personnel clearly felt awkward and could only respond, "The truth is unknown." The Korean booth displayed various aircraft models, naturally including the KF-21 and several drone models. The Russian booth was small, mainly featuring helicopters, with little else, and even the promotional beauties were downgraded compared to Zhuhai. The AVIC booth also featured a row of aircraft models, and the J-10CE attracted a lot of attention, but there was no sign of the PL-15 missile model.
The most interesting booth was one that absolutely couldn't be seen in Zhuhai and may not even be seen elsewhere—the Indian booth. From afar, I saw its large logo: Brahmos, world’s best supersonic cruise missile (Brahmos, the world's best supersonic cruise missile). When I saw this statement, I wanted to ask about the "Brahmos" missile's Brownian motion during the conflict between India and Pakistan, but then I thought better of it.
"Brahmos" has a very impressive booth
Aside from "Brahmos," the Indian booth also displayed other missile models, including the "Astra Mk2" medium-range air-to-air missile, which is said to be对标PL-15, and the "Akash" air defense missile, which resembles Russia's "Buk." Additionally, images of the "Tejas" fighter appeared on the display boards, but there was no model.
Interestingly, the Iranian booth was right across from the Indian booth. The Iranian booth was large and had many items, though not many were impressive. Not only were there many civilian ships on display, but they also placed a model of a self-designed and built submarine. The Iranian staff were very enthusiastic towards me, but I hurriedly took my leave as I worried about missing the upcoming flight demonstration outside.
But outside, the rain was pouring heavily, making people wonder: will the flight demonstration continue? So I asked someone in Malaysian Air Force uniform, who checked the information and informed me that the plan would proceed as scheduled.
Talking about uniforms, there were all kinds of uniforms on display inside. I roughly estimated that people from all over Southeast Asia seemed to be present. Among the officers in the venue, their uniforms were neat, badges shining, looking very impressive. There were quite a few general officers flashing by, but I couldn’t tell which countries they belonged to. In comparison, Vietnam’s generals’ uniforms were very similar to those from China’s 1990s style, while China’s Joint Staff Corps generals’ uniforms and badges were much more understated than those in Southeast Asia.
Interestingly, despite being an Islamic country, I saw many women in the venue, not wearing military uniforms. However, they did not wear the common military caps but instead tied headscarves. Interestingly, some booths had kebabs, cakes, fried noodles, and coffee set up, and after taking food, I honestly asked where to pay, only for them to wave me off and gesture to eat as much as I wanted.
Although the food was good, considering that the flight demonstration plan would continue, I headed towards the runway anyway. I was accompanied by two people from Nanjing. By the way, it seems there are quite a few Chinese aviation enthusiasts visiting Langkawi. This is a rare opportunity to photograph Western aircraft, and Malaysia is nearby with visa-free entry. Therefore, in Langkawi, those carrying long lenses were mostly Chinese, with only a few foreigners.
Although the guards didn’t quite understand why we braved the rain to approach the runway, they still let us through. However, since the guards hadn’t properly set up barriers, we unknowingly ended up on the apron without anyone stopping us. To avoid the rain, we took shelter under the wing of an F-18C. However, taking shelter wasn’t easy either, as the F-18C’s wings, with their flap joints and folding structures, couldn’t completely block the rain and were leaking water. But since all aircraft seemed unperturbed by the rain, no one bothered to cover them with tarpaulins. Seeing that preparations for takeoff were underway near the “Russian Warriors” area, we moved closer to that direction and sought shelter under the wings of Malaysia’s Su-30MKM. Soon after, the rain gradually stopped, and the sky began to clear up, finally ready for the flight demonstration.
Just as the rain was about to stop, two US Navy F/A-18Es flew low overhead. This was originally part of the flight demonstration, but seeing no one below and the rain still falling, they notified the following B-52 not to come. Indeed, at that point, there were probably less than 20 people who saw the F/A-18E fly by, which was practically equivalent to no audience for the airshow. For the B-52, coming would have been futile.
After the rain stopped, the planes began to take off for the performance. The first to take off was Malaysia’s Su-30MKM from the Royal Malaysian Air Force. This aircraft, like India’s Su-30MKI, features a three-surface design and manual control thrust vectoring engines. The Royal Malaysian Air Force certainly spared no expense for the airshow. There are a total of 18 Su-30MKMs in the air force, and three were present for the show; similarly, there are a total of 8 F-18C/D aircraft, and three were present.
Malaysia's Su-30MKM putting on a performance
There are rumors that the person piloting the Su-30MKM for the airshow is the Commander of the Royal Malaysian Air Force. If it’s truly him, then that would be even more of a blood sacrifice. Although the Su-30MKM’s aerobatics were beautiful, focusing on post-stall maneuvers like falling leaves and tailslides, they did not perform a dry takeoff like Bogdan did in Zhuhai after a very short taxi. After all, the Su-30MKM’s thrust-to-weight ratio isn’t that extreme, and the pilots’ flying skills aren’t that extreme either.
Next was Indonesia’s “Jupiter” Aerobatic Team, which used six Korea KT-1B turboprop trainers. Modern turboprop trainers are not only suitable for basic flight training but can also complete many advanced flight training subjects. Moreover, the aircraft’s flight control system can automatically compensate for propeller torque, avoiding the situation where older single-engine propeller aircraft need to press roll when adding power.
An individual aircraft performing barrel rolls around a three-aircraft formation
Following “Jupiter” was “Russian Knights.” The Russians are quite bold; they arrived in the morning around 9 o'clock and were back in the air performing by afternoon at 2 o'clock. Even when the rain had not yet stopped, they prepared for takeoff without rain gear.
This flight demonstration followed the usual routine: six Su-35s took to the skies, with one Su-30SM remaining on the ground as a backup. The entire takeoff process was very compact, with two three-aircraft formations taking off consecutively. The first three-aircraft formation, due to its earlier takeoff position, was already nearing the jungle when it pulled up. The second three-aircraft formation started from the end of the runway and took off in front of the audience, completing the action beautifully.
When the second three-aircraft formation turned left upon ascending, the first formation had already completed its first loop. Immediately, the second formation followed suit, unfolding from a triangular formation into a straight line, forming a perfect large triangle with the first formation. At this point, the second formation had only completed a quarter of a loop in the air, with the entire process being very tight and aggressive.
After the six-aircraft formation performed its usual maneuvers, two aircraft left the formation and returned to base. The remaining four aircraft continued their aerial maneuvers, scattering in the air. Two Su-35s then detached from the formation to perform actions with the double-aircraft formation, including head-on passes and double-aircraft falling leaf maneuvers, which are high-risk actions. Head-on flying requires very precise flying skills and is also thrilling, but the difficulty of the double-aircraft falling leaf maneuver is also high. After all, the falling leaf maneuver is already a high-difficulty move, and coordinating it precisely between two aircraft makes it even harder.
After the double-aircraft formation returned, the remaining two single-aircraft continued the performance. By then, the engines of the aircraft had been in afterburner for a while, and the familiar roar and震撼 returned, just like in Zhuhai.
The deep, authoritative roar of the high-thrust turbofan engines can only be experienced by those who have attended an airshow.
In contrast to Zhuhai, the aerial performance area in Langkawi is concentrated on the other side of the runway, and the roar of the turbofans was somewhat diluted due to distance. On the contrary, at Zhuhai's "observation tower," the aircraft were almost directly overhead, with the sound waves impacting the entire body, and the cement buildings beneath our feet were trembling.
Su-35 "trailing smoke"
The biggest difference between Langkawi and Zhuhai is the weather: although Langkawi experiences heavy rains, it clears up afterward. Against the backdrop of blue skies and white clouds, the blue-white-red livery of the “Russian Knights” stood out strikingly. The air was still very humid, and when the Su-35 opened afterburners and climbed, we could clearly see condensation on the wings. This was not caused by supersonic flight but by the pressure differential above and below the wings.
Looking back at the Zhuhai Airshow in 2024, even though the rain had stopped, the entire sky remained overcast. Even though Bogdan put in a great effort, once he worked hard, the Su-57 disappeared into the clouds. The “Russian Knights” also performed with great effort, daring to fly in dense formation through the clouds, which made us admire their recklessness.
The B-52 ultimately did not appear, and all other planned flight demonstrations, including light aircraft, helicopters, and transports, were canceled. After all, due to the rain, although the start time of the performance was delayed, the end time could not be changed—airport airspace had to be handed back to civil aviation on time, with flights still waiting in line for takeoff and landing.
Although somewhat regrettable, I did not repeat the mistake of the Zhuhai airshow in terms of photography: I used Canon EOS 1DX Mk2, paired with EF70-200mm/f2.8IS Mk2. Although this camera is old, it suffices; although the lens isn't telephoto enough, its autofocus is fast. Its continuous shooting capability is also sufficient. During the Su-35’s climb and "water smoke" display, I just needed to hold down the shutter button continuously. Later, I found that not a single shot was out of focus.
Moreover, the old camera doesn’t require anything while on standby; when needed, I just raise it and press the shutter. No startup time, no standby power consumption—it’s a completely different experience compared to Fujifilm GFX100S. Normally, Fujifilm GFX offers superior color reproduction, detail richness, and expressive power for shooting flowers and people, but for an airshow, it’s all about speed and responsiveness.
While holding your arms up for a long time can cause soreness, it can only be handled by regular practice of the "iron arm technique." Carrying a tripod is unrealistic—there’s no space to place it, and it’s impossible to keep up with the rapidly passing aircraft. Moreover, carrying a tripod makes bending over and crouching uncomfortable.
At the time, there was a Malaysian girl nearby using her phone to shoot, but soon she pulled out a small fan to cool her phone. I don’t know how much footage she actually captured; perhaps she was mostly there for the atmosphere.
In summary, the Langkawi Airshow is neither as professional as larger airshows nor purely public relations events like national air force open days. Instead, it occupies a middle ground, offering its own unique charm.
Lanang Island is located in the northwest of Malaysia, not far from the southern tip of Thailand, close to the equator, with abundant rainfall. The rich seafood of the Andaman Sea and the diverse wildlife of the tropical rainforest have shaped the unique ecology here; monkeys can often be seen crossing leisurely on the roads, and drivers do not slow down at all, as if they all obey traffic rules. If you love water sports, you can enjoy paradise-like excitement here.
Here, I strongly recommend that everyone should definitely visit Langkawi, whether to watch the airshow and take a tour, or to come for a vacation and watch the airshow on the side—it’s an excellent choice either way.
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Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7509663536054813219/
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