Iruma J.A.S.D.F. Airshow and rehersal

[Latinbear]

As part of our trip to Japan we spent two days at Iruma airbase, northwest of Tokyo. In part this was because we expected Hyakuri to have a down day as the base returned to normality following the triennial review but also because we wanted to capture rehearsals for the forthcoming airshow including the C1 transport elephant walk.

 

A photo report of our three days at Hyakuri can be found here:

 

Owing to the base's closeness to Tokyo, the airshow being held on a public holiday (National Culture Day) as well as being free of charge, attendance is off the scale with some 400,000 people turning up. Apparently once inside it's not dissimilar to pictures you see of Tokyo commuter trains at the rush hour while at the crowd line it is  20 deep which I imagine is quite unpleasant. There is no parking on base and with public parking in the vicinity severely restricted public transport is what everybody uses. 

 

With this in mind we decided not to go inside but instead pick a vantage point that allowed us to look down on the taxiway and end of the runway. Fortunately on both days the wind was from the north which meant we would get taxying for take off and landing shots. To secure our spots we were in position by 4.20am(!) and we weren't the first ones there. Local enthusiasts told us they often arrive the night before to park, set up their ladders and then go back and sleep in their cars. The flying began at 9.05am and finished at 3pm. If you are thinking of going bear in mind there is a break for lunch and despite the size of the crowd suggesting otherwise do not think you are attending Fairford. This is more of a local event and there is no shortage of gaps in the display schedule. That being said it was a great day out and the elephant walk really made it. 

 

Iruma is home to the Air Defence Command HQ with based aircraft including C1's, YS11's, U125,s T4's, and Ch47 Chinooks.  

 

1. Our first movement of the day and not something we expected to see. Not complaining though!

 

2. 

 

 

3. A hint of what was to come.

 

4.

 

5.

 

6. Local sources told us that this is the last year the walk will be performed by six C1s.

 

7.

 

8.

 

9.

 

10.

 

11.

 

12..

 

13.

 

14.

 

15.

 

16.

 

17. The show's opening performance. Even without the fire bucket it was a rather more genteel display when compared to the RAF's Chinook display

 

18.

 

19,

 

20.

 

21.

 

22. This caught us by surprise. On the practise day the winds were gusting at 50mph hence no parachute drop

 

23. You can see why we got there so early

 

24.

 

25.

 

26.

 

27.

 

28.

 

29.

 

30. At the risk of lighting the blue touch paper I found it interesting to note that Iruma is situated in a heavily built up area but that presented no barrier to the airshow or indeed the Blue Impulse displaying in contrast to the Red Arrows being restricted to a flypast only at Farnborough. 

 

31.

 

32.

 

33.

 

34.

 

35. Returning after the display

 

36. Fast jet flying was limited to a four T4s and the Blue Impulse. This F15 on static departed at the end of the day's flying display. We were treated to a spirited departure and turning climb within the boundaries of the airfield though. 

 

37.

 

38. Another end of day departure

 

39. Meerkats! 

 

That's it. Thanks for looking!

[PLC1966]

Great photos chap.  Really looks like a great show.

 

Very impressive how clean the aircraft are.  Not a lot of weathering or panels line being picked out there.

[Jinxman]

Love to see the Japan stuff - thanks for sharing these, and the last shot did make me chuckle.

 

We've done the Iruma show from inside - you line up about a 100 yards from the fence, a whistle blows, and then you run like the wind, knocking all and sundry out of the way to get a good position. 400k spectators sounds about right, but everyone has their personal space and it is all quite relaxed once the jostling subsides.

[Latinbear]

1 hour ago, PLC1966 said:

Great photos chap.  Really looks like a great show.

 

Very impressive how clean the aircraft are.  Not a lot of weathering or panels line being picked out there.

 

I agree. Even at Hyakuri the grey F4s seemed very clean as do all of the T4s that I've seen not to mention the U125s and the executive jets which I guess you would kind of expect.

It was a good show and I loved every minute of it. Not just the flying but the atmosphere around the fence and the friendliness of the locals. We gave away our step ladders at the end of the day which caused some initial bemusement and then smiles.  

 

[Latinbear]

21 minutes ago, Jinxman said:

Love to see the Japan stuff - thanks for sharing these, and the last shot did make me chuckle.

 

We've done the Iruma show from inside - you line up about a 100 yards from the fence, a whistle blows, and then you run like the wind, knocking all and sundry out of the way to get a good position. 400k spectators sounds about right, but everyone has their personal space and it is all quite relaxed once the jostling subsides.

 

That sounds hilarious! By chance we met some fellow UK enthusiasts at Hyakuri prior to the show and who went inside. They made it to the crowd line but it was rather cramped. Having seen the elephant walk on the Monday I was tempted to go inside as much to experience the atmosphere as anything else but with the viewing position that we had to see the elephant walk for a second time then I have no regrets about staying outside.  

[canberraman]

Fantastic and rare photos from what looked a great vantage point. The elephant walk is particularly impressive.

 

Mark

[Latinbear]

Cheers Mark, it was quite special and being able to see it from two locations was very nice. I think I fired off over 100 shots as they approached from head on and took off. 

[Paul J]

The site of all those C-1's is awesome . They  must have sounded that too! Lovely pics.

[Alpha Delta 210]

More great images from a memorable trip. #7 is my favourite! 

[modelling minion]

Another cracking set of pictures.

Thank you for sharing them, the Elephant walk looks really impressive.

[Robert]

Another great set of photos. Never heard of the 'elephant walk' which is impressive with 6 C-1s so good to see it even though it may be the last. My favs are 30 and 32. 

 

Robert

[Latinbear]

Cheers Robert - much appreciated. I have seen shots of US F16s in Korea and C17s in the US all start up and taxi down the runway in a show of strength which they call an elephant walk but to me there is something about the C1 that vaguely resembles and elephant. Maybe it's the chubby behind or more likely I'm clutching at straws. Either way it was great to witness. 

 

The Blue Impulse put on a very polished display and made a nice change from European teams. 

 

[sammy da fish]

Thank you for sharing your photographs with us. I know that I must add going to one of these shows in Japan to my lifetime bucket list.

Simon

[RidgeRunner]

Those YS-11s look wonderful! Its nice to see them still going strong and in a variety of scheme, too!

 

Martin

 

[Latinbear]

21 hours ago, sammy da fish said:

Thank you for sharing your photographs with us. I know that I must add going to one of these shows in Japan to my lifetime bucket list.

Simon

 

Thanks Simon, I found Japan to be a fascinating place and if variety is the spice of life then there is plenty of it in aircraft terms.

[Latinbear]

1 hour ago, RidgeRunner said:

Those YS-11s look wonderful! Its nice to see them still going strong and in a variety of scheme, too!

 

Martin

 

 

Cheers Martin, It was very nice to see them and the sun played its part perfectly by showing off the colour schemes at their best. 

[F-32]

Very impressive

[Red Dot]

Just spotted this thread. Great Photos.

 

Knowing where you were, you really were running to get side shots and head-ons. Well done that man!

 

I was inside on show day and had the pleasure of being right at the front of the queue all the way to the tarmac from the main gate. It was so organised and relaxed compared to the RIAT mess. I would say around 150,000-200,000 people were there but it was far busier than the last time i went. Reports are always exaggerated about crowd size, however there were at least 500 in the queue to sit in the T-4 and they must have been there all day. Crazy.

 

You don't need to be at the front for the flying and you can politely wander between people to take photos of the static. What a difference compared to the UK.

 

Here's a thought.........200,000 people take on average 50x digital photos of the Blue Impulse in 20 minutes, that's 500,000 pictures per minute !!! Good job they don't use film any more.

 

Welcome to Japan :-) and when are you going back?

 

 

Andy

 

 

 

 

[Latinbear]

Thanks for the compliments Andy, much appreciated and not least about my athletic abilities!

 

The truth is though that the head on shots were all taken on the Monday whereas the side on shots were a mix of the Monday after the elephant walk had finished and show day itself. The crowd at both sections of the fence would preclude moving the ladder that was needed in both places. 

 

I had mixed feelings about not going in. Part of me wanted to go inside to experience the atmosphere but logistically it would have been difficult and ultimately I was very pleased with our location on show day.

 

I need to start plotting the return so no dates as yet but I certainly plan on it being 2018!