Malaysia 2025
The 2025 edition of LIMA at Langkawi saw a group of photopgraphers make their way to Malaysia once again.
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Just before 14.00 on Tuesday 13 May 2025, the largest number of travellers for the trip to Malaysia were ready at the well-known meeting point at Schiphol Plaza. Check-in, baggage-drop and security all went without a hiccup so we were well in-time for the long journey to Kuala Lumpur. The first leg to Doha went smoothly.
The transfer in Doha on the flight to KL on Wednesday 14 May 2025 was also not very exciting. In Doha, another travel companion joined the group. Nice detail was that the A330 of Malaysian Airlines that would take us to KL,was in the tiger color scheme. We arrived at KL airport right on time. Due to the crowds, it took a little longer than expected before we had completed the formalities and stood outside with our bags. Here another fellow traveler was waiting for our arrival. However, 2 additional travellers were delayed and therefore not yet in Kuala Lumpur. In the meantime, the 3 rental cars were rustled and with some fitting and measuring there was even room for the luggage. Only 2 travellers had to still come along. After we had found each other, we had to fit and measure again to be able to take all the luggage in the now somewhat cramped rental cars. After some tries and a headache or two it turned out that it could all fit in somehow, so the next hurdle is we try to leave the airport behind us.
Right at the first gas station, we were forced to stop to buy toll cards (main roads are all toll-roads) and some provisions. After all, there was still a long way to go. Once on the right road, it turned out that it was very busy around Kuala Lumpur, which caused a lot of delay. After a few hours of driving, because of the time, we immediately ate a sandwich at a fuel top-off. Around a quarter to 11 in the evening we finally arrived at our first hotel. After the tiring journey, everyone went straight to their rooms, happy that they could sleep in a normal bed.
Today, Thursday 15 May 2025, was the first day to see some planes; destination Alor Setar. After a copious breakfast we left for this base where we arrived at the runway head around 8.30 am. After a first acquaintance with the very hot and humid climate, 2 Su30s soon took off and stayed away for about an hour. In the meantime we were treated to a landing F/A-18D, a PC-7 that flew some circuits and we enjoyed ourselves with the local birds. The Su-30s were soon back on finals. Then a bunch of PC-7s came back from the rehearsal over Langkawi. After a short period of silence, a few PC-7s took off again, followed by another duo of Su-30s. This duo was also back after about an hour and flew some laps around the airfield. After these aircraft had recovered and it had become very hot, it was decided to drive around the base to see if some numbers could be logged and to enjoy the air conditioning in the cars. In addition to the well-known preserved aircraft, the wrecks and relics, a few things were seen under the sunsheds, including 4x Hawks that were unfortunately grounded due to the nose wheel incident a few days ago.
After the reconnaissance round, we drove to the ferry port in Kuala Perlis to take the boat to Langkawi Island. The vans were parked and we were allowed to board the passenger ferry to Kuah. This all went without any problems and after an hour of sailing we were on Langkawi. At the ferry terminal, 3 other vans were ready to transport us across the island for the coming days. From the harbor we reached our hotel in only about 12 minutes. Here the last participant joined the group.
Dinner was then enjoyed on the pleasantly large terrace of a restaurant in Kua.
Just after seven in the morning of Friday 16 May 2025, we left our hotel for the airport of Langkawi. Per our information, today the airpower demo would be practiced for the opening of the show. It was decided to start ‘at the fence’ today to get an idea of what the possibilities are and how they fly. Indeed, the opening ‘gambit’ as they call it, was kicked off with a very fast F/A-18 pass. Then most types of the Malaysian Air Force flew past us a few times in different directions. Very nice! Unfortunately, the weather was not so great for nice pictures due to a lot of clouds this morning. But, there were more chances the coming weekend. After a short break, the same program was rehearsed again. Apart from some transport aircraft from the Malaysians, no participants were expected to arrive for the LIMA show today, and no further rehearsals apart from the Indonesian Jupiter team. This provided us with the opportunity to go see the rehearsals of the maritime part of the LIMA show, which is held at Resorts World Langkawi, in the afternoon. This part of the LIMA show contains a lot of spectacle with boats and fireworks as well as a number of helicopters that can be captured very nicely. This afternoon there were (almost) no restrictions with where you were allowed to go and stand. With plenty of shade and a fresh drink, it was a very nice afternoon!
In the evening, the same restaurant was tested again and again experienced as excellent..
Also on Saturday 17 May 2025, the rehearsal of the ‘Gambit’ was on the program. For a change, we started today at the Langkawi Look-out Point from where you have an elevated view over the airport. Compared to previous editions, the vegetation had increased considerably so the views are not equally open in all directions. Around the same times as Friday, the rehearsals were completed. From the lookout point you can beautifully capture the fighters and transport aircraft. The helicopters are a bit more shy and remain largely out of reach. With a little sun and partially blue sky, everyone was very satisfied with the results. Over the morning, the Singaporean delegation for the LIMA show arrived with an F-15, CH-47 and an Apache. There were still some other arrivals planned, but they all turned out to be delayed and some even cancelled. So, again the afternoon was spent at Resorts World for the maritime part. Today, however, there turned out to be more restrictions with where we as visitors were allowed to be.
In the evening it was again a group to eat and be together at our now regular restaurant.
After the success of the Saturday at the Lookout Point, today, Sunday 18 May 2025, we started again on the hill. It was very noticeable that it was starting to go towards the show-opening because the amount of people on the hill was clearly larger than on Saturday. The Opening Gambit ran 2x again at the same times as the previous days. Once again, the flight movements could be captured beautifully. to be.
‘There were a few show arrivals planned for the rest of the day. In order not to miss any of this, we camped at various places along the track. Among other things, 2x US Navy F/A-18Es showed up. Unfortunately, there were also some cancellations or further delayed participants today (Russian Kights anyone?). This turned easily into the LIMA edition with the lower number of participants, coupled with the grounding of the Malaysian Hawks.
This evening it was again cozy on the terrace of our permanent place in Tuah.
Today, Monday 19 May 2025, was already the day of the return trip to the mainland. Because our ferry would not leave until later in the afternoon, we naturally spent most of the day at the airport. Today the ‘Gambit’ was not rehearsed. On the other hand, the RMAF solo demonstrations finally flew their rehearsals. So during our last hours at Langkawi we fortunately saw the special c/s Su-30 fly as well as the ‘Picachu’ F/A-18D.
There were still very nice aircraft to see today, for example a US Navy C-2 that made a very short stop as well as a C295 from Brunei. Around 4 pm we said goodbye to the first traveller of our group. He would fly on to Thailand the next day.
We dropped the rental vans at the ferry terminal and in record time we were on board the ferry back to Kuala Perlis. In Kuala Perlis our 3 cars were waiting for us. Fortunately, we had a mental picture of how we packed the luggage on the way up, so this time the loading went a lot faster. From the ferry terminal we started the approximately 2-hour drive to Butterworth for this night’s hotel.
We arrived here quite late, late enough that most restaurants had already closed the kitchen. Fortunately, a restaurant was happy to receive us. With some typical spicy noodle bowls our hunger was well taken care of.
Today, Tuesday 20 May 2025, the return trip to Kuala Lumpur was on the program. Along the way we could log some wrecks, relics and preserved aircraft. However, this was not to be for 2 reasons. First of all, the weather was not too great and secondly, car No 2 started to show some quirks due to probably a worn bearing. After consulting with the car rental company, it was advised to drive carefully to Subang and monitor whether the situation worsened. In the meantime, the car rental would look to get a replacement car to our hotel that evening. So we drove the hours to Subang at our leisure. Once we arrived at the spotter place, the weather still turned out not to be too good, but we were treated to a few A400s and a couple of C-130s from the RMAF before it was time to look for the hotel.
After checking in at the hotel, another local restaurant was tested and this one was also labeled as very good afterwards. (Car 2’s situation had deteriorated, but given the limited number of kilometers to Kuala Lumpur airport, we decided to continue to the airport the next day).
Today, Wednesday 21 May 2025, was already our last day in Malaysia. In principle, we could look at Subang for as long as we wanted and make our plan what to do next. Subang is of course the main transport base of the RMAF with a fairly mixed fleet. As visitors we saw a French A400 and the C295 from Brunei was also there again. Almost all types of the RMAF were logged, including a (the?) B200. Around 4 o’clock we said goodbye to 3 travellers who were still going to stay in Kuala Lumpur. A number of our group wanted to photograph the Petronas Towers and they left with 1 car towards the centre. The rest of the group struggled with the crippled car No 2 towards the transit hotel at Kuala Lumpur airport. Soon everyone was back together at the transit hotel. The 3 rental cars were then refuelled and returned. Since our return flight would leave at 2.30 am, taxis were booked to be at the terminal around midnight.
As agreed, the 3 taxis were at the transit hotel on time and took us to the terminal. Check-in and all other formalities went smoothly and with a somewhat late departure the first leg brought us again to Doha. In Doha we said goodbye to another traveller, after which we boarded for the last leg to Amsterdam. Once in Amsterdam there was the familiar long wait on the luggage, but all the bags and cases were there in the end. We said goodbye, shook hands etcetera with the general wish that ereyone would love to go back to Langkawi again!
