LIMA 2025

Langkawi International Maritime Aviation biannual show.

For 18 months, we have been planning the Aerotree attendance with the Extra 300 L. Halim my host, had been coming to the UK on many occasions for training during this time.

After a 12 hours delayed departure, I’m on the 13.5 hrs flight to Kuala Lumpur arriving with a body time of midnight, the first thing to do is get to a hotel and sleep a few hours.

The afternoon of day one is filled with fitting the Pyro system to the aircraft.

Day 2, is planned for a “lazy” start helping do away with jet lag. As a team we never fly outside of our time zone in the early days of a detachment. Being tired is like being drunk, decision and reaction times are reduce.

The first training flight is planned for 3pm, being at Sebang airport KL’s former international airport is now rather busy with airlines and other commercial flights. Getting an overhead slot for 15 mins proves difficult and then the afternoon CB’s had built sufficiently to cause a massive downpour. No flying.

Day 3, difficulties did plague us getting a slot but by mid afternoon this went ahead. Halim took me out to the local training area however when we got there ATC would not give us above 1000ft. Just an observation I have found when flying near the equator it messes with your north and south senses. In Australia when the sun is in the north you soon get used to this but not here basically on the equator.

Day 4, we decide to go to Langkawi early where it will be possible to practice. The transit flight is in clear weather flying over rice paddy fields, palm oil plantations, jungle, sea crossing of 30 miles and a low level sight seeing around Kuah.

Day 5, it’s a straight forwards single training slot in the overhead with the rest of the day at the beach and pool.

Day 6, Halim has an appointment with Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, so I get the day off. Taking advantage of this I rent a scooter and visit Kuah the main port town of the island. On the way back I visit the practice of the Marine element of the show. The navy, customs and police demonstrate the smuggling interdiction abilities, the hostage rescue of hijackings and piracy. All very powerful and interesting.

Day 7, another practice and then beach and pool for the remainder of the day.

20th May, opening day. The opening gambit is a very well coordinated event with 24 aircraft in the air at once. I think this video from Adam Landau highlights the opening gambit.

WMKL being an international airport the displays have to work to a very tight schedule, unfortunately rain delayed the start of the afternoon segment so myself and 3 other acts didn’t get to fly.

However, the weather cleared enabling me to fly Malaysia’s first ever pyro show along the beach at Chenang against a stunning sunset.

The following 4 days of displays were flown all on time with exception to the last day when rain played havoc again.

One of the most impressive displays was the solo SU30 flown by Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) soon to be retired Chief General Tan Sri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan.

The last show on public day was a challenge due to low clouds and rain, General Khan showed he was a true master of the aircraft adapting the display to fit the gaps in clouds. One of the most impressive parts was and inverted push along the main axis rolling erect and pulling hard from -2G to plus 8G in an instant !

The Marine element of the presentation was a very well choreographed with a customs interdiction scene, using helicopters, jet skis and speed boats. Another scenario was hostage rescue form a highjacking at sea. All very impressive.

25th May we take a day off. Pool time and general relaxing. Day time temps are usually 31′ but quite humid.

26th, I’m tasked to take the 300L back to Sebang. This a 1:35 flight. One thing that is notable is the frequent reporting points along the route, each time reporting ETA to next point, height, fuel endurance remaining, POB. The arrival at Sebang was uneventful for myself however there was a C130 in the circuit that reported a rudder issue and climbed to 6000 to dump fuel.