Saturday 30 August 2014

BLUE IMPULSE

JAPAN’S AEROBATIC DEMONSTRATION TEAM






  As the Japan Self Defence Force (JSDF) celebrates it 60th anniversary, the Force aerobatic team, Blue Impulse, is itself in its 54th year and is commemorating the JSDF’s Anniversary in 2014 with 17 displays at airshows around Japan during the year.  In a tribute to the Anniversary, here is a snapshot of the team’s immaculate presentation and choreography.
Founded in 1960 and originally known as ‘Tenryu’ it took on the more recognisable and present title soon after.  Initial equipment was the F-86F Sabre, and this mount was replaced in 1980 after 20 years service by the Mitsubishi T-2, which served until 1995.  The T-2 was subsequently replaced by the currently operated Kawasaki T-4.

The team (officially 11 Sqn/4th Air Wing) is home based at Matsushima Air Base and operates nine examples of the T-4, two of which are back up aircraft.

The images below were taken during the final display of the 2013 airshow calender.

GAFLIKS

ground att's prepping prior start up

ship 2

line up ships 3, 4, 5, 6

ship 1 leads the team out

ship 2 falls in line

a Hi to the photographer from Ship 2 as it passes

Ship's 1 to 4 airborne

Blue Impulse's team patch

Ship's 1 to 4 in line taxi out to the active

the team approach airfield over the spare's Ship...

Ship's 5 and 6 catch up

Smoke on Go!.... flyby Ship's 1 to 6


Thanks to GAFLIKS for providing this report.

©  Copyright.

Wednesday 27 August 2014

Itami Airport RJOO - June 2014

JA8985 B773 JAL at Itami Airport.

JA8399 B763 JAL at Itami Airport.

JA04RJ CRJ2 IBEX at Itami Airport.

JA221J E170 J-AIR at Itami Airport.

JA358K B735 ANA Wings at Itami Airport.

JA8399 B763 JAL at Itami Airport.

Sunday 24 August 2014

‘TIDA’ Today


FLEET AIRWING 5
  JAPAN MARITIME SELF DEFENCE FORCE


(5 Wing P-3’s air to air), courtesy of 5 wing JMSDF

In 1954 following the law which approved the creation of the Japan Self Defence Force (JSDF), it consisting of three services, the JASDF (Air Force), JGSDF (Army) and the JMSDF (Maritime). The latter command’s primary task was the defence of Japan’s coastline and the security of sea routes in territorial waters, a mission unchanged to this day.  The US Navy supplied the initial platform to conduct these missions in the form of the Lockheed P2V Neptune powered by Wright R3350 turbo-compound’s and 48 were assembled by Kawasaki from 1956.  The P2V-7 served until replaced by the licence built Kawasaki P-2J, beginning in 1969. The latter was a turbine version of the P2V Neptune powered by licensed built General Electric T64 engines.  Some 83 examples were manufactured and gradually replaced the P2V-7’s into the early seventies.
P-2J on a wet Naha in Nov 1977  

base sign

5 Wing P-3C’s on the apron at Naha 

In turn the P-2J’s were themselves replaced from 1982 by Kawasaki built P-3 Orions, manufactured also under licence from Lockheed with deliveries beginning in 1982. A total of 110 examples were built of which 74 are on charge across five Fleet Air Wings, (FAW 1,-2,-4,-5 and 31), the latter Wing plus SQN 51 operate electronic versions of the aircraft designated UP-3C/D, EP-3C and OP-3C. In addition, Air Training Command’s 203 SQN operate a number of P-3C’s.   

P-3C 5101 rotates off Naha’s RW36 on another sortie

Air Patrol Wing 5 use call sign (TIDA), meaning ‘The Sun’(local dialect ‘Utina Guchi’) and the subject of this occasional report from Japan, is home based at Air Base Naha, Okinawa, operating 51 and 52 Flight with some 12 P-3C Update 111 examples on line.

P-3C 5091 returns to Naha after a patrol

In addition to the primary missions mentioned above, 5 Wing also monitors the approaches to the southwest islands, offshore drilling rigs in home waters and is on response call for regional disaster and relief operations. Since 2009 a detachment of two examples are on rotation in Somalia partaking in the multi-national anti-piracy operation.  Recent tensions with China over disputed islands to the southwest of Okinawa (5 Wings area of responsibility) is on-going, and thus has ensured increased missions from Naha around the clock.  Several instances have been reported of Chinese fighters and surveillance aircraft flying recklessly close to 5 Wings P-3’s while conducting routine patrols in this area, following the recently implemented (and unrecognised by Japan) ADIZ. 

5MSQ badge endorsed on base hangar

In house 5 Wing Maintenance and Supply Sqn are fully equipped at Air Base Naha, to undertake checks on airframe, powerplant, electronics, ordinance and survival gear, plus the important task of procurement of the Wings inventory.


daily action at Naha

For the future a requirement for the eventual P-3 replacement will be focused on the indigenous Kawasaki P-1, several of which are currently undergoing development flying trials.  The number envisaged for the JMSDF is 70 aircraft.

Last month (July 2014) was the 60th anniversary of the unified military JSDF.

JMSDF ensign

Thanks to GAFLIKS for providing this report.

©  Copyright.

Friday 22 August 2014

Kadena AB RODN (WC135 Constant Phoenix, RC135 Rivet Joint & E8 Joint STARS) - June 2014, Part 8

62-3582 WC135 USAF at RODN.

64-4845 RC135 USAF at RODN.

64-4845 RC135 USAF at RODN.

00-2000 E8C USAF at RODN.

00-2000 E8C USAF at RODN.

Wednesday 20 August 2014

Kadena AB RODN (KC-135 Stratotanker)- June 2014, Part 7

58-0093 KC135R USAF at RODN.

63-8879 KC135R USAF at RODN.

63-8879 KC135R USAF at RODN.

63-8879 KC135R USAF at RODN.

63-8879 KC135R USAF at RODN.

63-8879 KC135R at RODN.

Monday 18 August 2014

Kadena AB RODN (P-8A Poseidon) - June 2014, Part 6

168433 P-8A USN at RODN.

168433 P-8A USN at RODN.

168435 P-8A USN at RODN.

168435 P-8A USN at RODN.

168435 P-8A USN at RODN.

168435 P-8A USN at RODN.

Saturday 16 August 2014

Kadena AB RODN (P-3 Orion) - June 2014, Part 5

161764 P3 USN at RODN.

161764 P3 USN at RODN.

159894 P3 USN at RODN.

161586 P3 USN at RODN.

163006 P3 USN at RODN.

159894 P3 USN at RODN.