Pacific Airwaves: 2015

Wednesday 30 December 2015

Japan autumn round up 2015 - 6. Naha

6. Naha

Located on the southern part of Okinawa Island, Naha AB hosts JASDF units F-15J/DJ fighter aircraft, Kawasaki T-4 trainers, E-2C aircraft, UH-60J Black Hawk and CH-47J Chinook Helicopters. Units of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force are also based at Naha, flying P-3 Orion patrol aircraft.

5096 P-3 lining up RWY 36 at Naha.

44-3463 E-2C landing at Naha.

12-8924 F-15 landing at Naha.

82-1155 YS-11EB landing at Naha.

92-3026 U-125A landing at Naha.

95-1081 C130H landing at Naha.

5035 taxiing to the P3 ramp at Naha.

Wednesday 16 December 2015

Japan autumn round up 2015 - 5. Hamamatsu JASDF

5. Hamamatsu JASDF

The base lies to the north of the city and houses the T-4 Trainers of 31 and 32 Kyoiku Hikotai. It is also home to the AWACS E-767 fleet of 602 Hikotai. The Kohokan Aerospace Museum is situated at the SE corner of the airfield and displays a variety of exhibits.

P-1 5510 the latest example delivered

E-767 74-3503 departs on another mission

a pair of T-4 residents rotate for a session of circuit training

dusk arrival for E-2C 34-3460 from Misiwa based 601 Hikotai

U-4 75-3251 of 402 Hikotai from Iruma

the highly popular Blue Impulse aerobatic team flying T-4's,
perform at some 18 shows in the season

the splendidly presented and long retired C-46A 91-1138 is displayed outside the museum

Report by GAFLIKS.

Saturday 12 December 2015

Japan autumn round up 2015 - 4. Gifu

4. Gifu

Situated in the eastern outskirts of the city, the Gifu base houses the Air Development and Test Facility for the JASDF. Its role could be considered the Japanese equivalent of the RAE at Farnborough, UK. The inventory here includes examples of F-4EJ, F-15J, F-2A/B, T-4, C-1FTB, XC-2. The annual airshow was held in Oct this year. Nearby on the south eastern side of the field is the splendid Kamigahara Aerospace and Science Museum, displaying a number of Japanese experimental prototypes.

a black trimmed F-4EJ performs some passes

an XC-2 in JASDF trim climbs out

a pair of F-2's make a sharp angle

F-2 in a tight turn

C-1 offering some angles

mass fly-by of some of the participants

US-1 9078, one of the exhibits at the museum

Report by GAFLIKS.

Tuesday 8 December 2015

Japan autumn round up 2015 - 3. Nagoya/Komaki‏

3. Nagoya/Komaki‏

Located on the eastern side of Nagoya Airport, Komaki JASDF airbase hosts the 401 Hikotai operating C-130H Hercules and a sole KC-130H. Also resident are the KC-767J tankers of 404 Hikotai. Mitsubishi Aerospace Industries has a large manufacturing and maintenance centre on the airfield. The JASDF are a major customer.

C-130H 75-1078 wearing the blue scheme rotates off rw34

C-130H 45-1074 in c'mflgd finish continuing its circuit bashing,
it is reported that the blue scheme will be phased out for the c'mflgd finish

sole KC-130H tanker 85-1080 arriving after a mission

KC-767J 87-3604 departs on a mission

an anonymous JASDF F-4EJ taxies to the run-up bay
following servicing at Mitsubishi

Report by GAFLIKS

Saturday 5 December 2015

Japan autumn round up 2015 - 2. JASDF HYAKURI-true Phantom country

2. JASDF HYAKURI-true Phantom country

Located 80km NE of the Tokyo metropolitan area in rural surroundings near the town of Tsuchiura, Hyakuri is home to the Hikotai 302 and 501 operating the F4EJ Kai and RF-4EJ respectively. Also in residence is the 305 Hikotai equipped with the F-15J/DJ and the T-4.

The base will lose their F-15's which will move to Nyutabaru in the new year but will inherit the F-4EJ Kai's of 301 Hikotai from the latter base making Hyakuri the largest F-4 base in the country.

1571 57-6914 an RF-4EJ of Hikotai 501 rotates off rw21R

1588 RF-4EJ 47-6901 of Hik 501 replendent in an overall blue finish

1770 friendly chaps these Phantom jocks

1809 an RF-4EJ banks around the airfield

1832 a pair of RF-4EJ's return to dispersal

1622 22-8812 F-15J of Hik 501 rotates off rw21R

1670 F-15 52-8854 coasts by your photographer on landing

1715 a trio of F-15's from Hik 305 taxi out for a mission

Report by GAFLIKS

Wednesday 2 December 2015

Japan autumn round up 2015 - 1. US NAVY Naval Air Facilty (NAF) Atsugi

1. US NAVY Naval Air Facilty (NAF) Atsugi

Located SW of Tokyo, Atsugi is the shore base for the US Navy's Carrier Air Wing 5 (CVW-5) when not operating at sea off the current carrier 'Ronald Reagan' (CVN-76), home based at nearby Yokosuka.
The station is shared with the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF) operating P-1, P-3, YS-11M, LC-90, US-2 and SH-60K.