> Singapore’s secrecy about its F-15SG fleet could stem from the fact that the type is, by a very large margin, the most effective combat aircraft in Southeast Asia – especially coupled with the high quality of Singapore pilots.
Thanks sukhoi-30mki.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Singapore#Separation
A friend of mine from my Air Force days was an F-5 instructor at Williams AFB, AZ, back in the days when “Willie” was still open, and we trained foreign F-5 pilots at that installation.
He told me the pilots from Singapore were far and away the best students in every class. Their flying skills were top-notch and when they weren’t in the cockpit, they were in the books, far more than any other group of pilots. He also told me the Jordanians were very good, largely because King Hussein personally managed his nation’s Air Force and hand-picked the pilots who trained in the U.S.
At the other end of the spectrum, he said Saudi and Mexican pilots ranged from borderline competent to downright dangerous. Most viewed the Williams training program as little more than a high-speed flying club, and that his how they approached their flight training and academics. Said it was a real adventure getting some of those “students” through the course.