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UP IN the skies, the flying displays wowed the 40,000 people who attended the inaugural Singapore Airshow yesterday.
But on the ground, transport, traffic and security arrangements struggled to cope on the first of the two days set aside for the public. Today is also the final day of the six-day show.
The first four days were only for trade visitors only.
Members of the public have to pay $20 to get in. Children under 12 pay $8.
As expected, the heart-stopping aerobatics - by elite air force teams from Singapore and Australia - did not disappoint aviation buffs.
Security officer Bobby Cheng, 58, like many others, snapped away with his camera as the Republic of Singapore Air Force's Black Knights did their high-speed stunts.
'It was very well-coordinated and great for photo-taking,' he said.
Despite the sweltering heat, many people sat at the open space in front of the sea to admire the aerobatic performances.
Many also braved the snaking queues to peek into military planes like the Hercules C-130 Transporter.
More than 60 of the latest civilian and military aircraft are on display at the show.
But getting into the show and later, getting out, frayed many a nerve.
As a stream of cars, taxis and shuttle buses rolled into the Changi Exhibition Centre in Aviation Park Road, a bottleneck that stretched to Changi Coast Road developed.
The security checkpoints outside the exhibition hall were swamped as well. Many visitors came with bags, bottles of water, cameras and other paraphernalia - all of which had to be checked.
One visitor, student Vanessa Lim, 20, skipped the shuttle bus service at Pasir Ris as the queue was 'too long'. Instead, she went to Singapore Expo and hopped into a cab there.
It took her 45 minutes to board a shuttle bus to leave the show.
Some exiting visitors said there was confusion at the shuttle bus pick-up point as there were no clear signs to indicate where to queue.
Yesterday, Mr Jimmy Lau, managing director of Singapore Airshow & Events, apologised for the traffic and other congestions that marred the first public day of the airshow.
He said traffic management plans have been reviewed for today and the organiser will work closely with the police.
The organiser also advised visitors to take the free shuttle service from Pasir Ris MRT station to the show instead of taxis.
About 80 buses will ferry guests to the site.
Visitors are also advised to put all loose items into a single bag to speed up security checks.
'We will do everything to improve the situation,' Mr Lau said.
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