Filler Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 Following on from @Red Dot Andy's photos from Japan, I have a few to share as well. I was over there on a family holiday, but I have created a tradition where I leave my wife and son for a few days and make some base visits. I think my wife enjoys the break from me just as much, especially the rest from translating everything! Before I go on, I must say that I've made a few base visits in Japan over the years, and each and everyone has been made pretty successful largely thanks to Andy @Red Dot. I first private messaged him on here nearly 7 years ago asking for advice about visiting Hyakuri air base and maybe every couple of years since I have pestered him for advice and information to make worthwhile visits to Tsuiki, Nyutabaru, Komatsu, Iwakuni, Gifu, and Iruma. And on this occasion, by total coincidence, we just happened to be at Komatsu air base on the same day, so finally getting to say hello face to face. A top Britmodeller! Our journey was 28 hours door to door, Manchester -Helsinki - Tokyo - Oita. But with a rather mixed looking weather forecast, the first day there looked the best, so first morning I jumped on the train and spent over four hours making my way to MCAS Iwakuni near Hiroshima. I knew from Andy that it's a tricky base to photograph at because there is only one vantage point with the base sticking out into the sea. And that vantage point means you are looking into the sun until about 2pm. And also, if the wind is coming from the north, then they are taking off over you and are very high. However, I struck lucky in the main and was able to get some nice photos when the wind blew from the 'right' direction in the afternoon, after the sun had come round. Iwakuni is home to the US Marine Corps, US Navy and Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force which makes for quite a variety of aircraft. In addition to what's below, there were also US and Japanese C-130s, a very colourful Learjet and a USN P-8 that along with the Hawkeyes, managed to evade good photo opportunities. Anyway, the photos. Lockheed UP-3D Orion 9161 81st Fleet Air Sqn 812th Flt, JMSDF by Phil Childs, on Flickr Kawasaki MCH-101 Merlin 8655, 111 Kokutai JMSDF by Phil Childs, on Flickr Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet, 110 NF, 166897 VFA-102 'Diamondbacks' USN by Phil Childs, on Flickr ShinMaywa US-2, 9903 71st FAS, JMSDF by Phil Childs, on Flickr Beechcraft UC-12F Huron, 163554, US Navy by Phil Childs, on Flickr Lockheed F-35B, 04 DT 169918, VMFA-242 'Bats' USMC by Phil Childs, on Flickr Northrop Grumman E-2D Hawkeye, 168989, 600, VAW-125 'Torch Bearers' USN by Phil Childs, on Flickr Boeing E/A-18G Growler 505 NF, 168899 VAQ-141 'Shadowhawks' USN by Phil Childs, on Flickr Lockheed EP-3 Orion 9172, 81st Fleet Air Sqn, JMSDF by Phil Childs, on Flickr Lockheed OP-3C Orion 9135, 81st Fleet Air Sqn, JMSDF by Phil Childs, on Flickr ShinMaywa US-2, 9907 71st FAS, JMSDF by Phil Childs, on Flickr A couple of weeks later I made my trip to Komatsu (where I met Andy) and Iruma. Komatsu is not the easiest base for photography and the weather was not very kind at all. We were there Monday and Tuesday. It was very windy, very cold and there was not an awful lot of sunshine. Andy and his group made the wise decision to move on to Gifu the second day as we had sleet, hail and snow on the Tuesday. But despite that, I think we still managed to capture some decent photos. Mitsubishi F-15J Eagle 303rd TFS "Fighting Dragons", 12-8803, at Komatsu by Phil Childs, on Flickr Hawker Siddeley U-125A, 12-3028, of the Air Rescue Wing at Komatsu by Phil Childs, on Flickr Mitsubishi F-15DJ Eagle TFTG, "Cobras" 72-8090, at Komatsu by Phil Childs, on Flickr Mitsubishi F-15DJ Eagle TFTG, "Cobras" 32-8082, at Komatsu by Phil Childs, on Flickr Mitsubishi F-15DJ Eagle TFTG, "Cobras" 32-8082, at Komatsu by Phil Childs, on Flickr Mitsubishi F-15DJ Eagle TFTG, "Cobras" 92-8070, at Komatsu by Phil Childs, on Flickr Finally, Iruma. It's a great base for photography, but aircraft wise, it's rather losing its appeal. Before this year is out I think that the C-1, EC-1 and YS-11s will all be no more. There isn't much of them now. I was told the EC-1 hadn't flown in a month and that the few remaining C-1s an YS-11s don't fly a lot. Luckily I did catch the C-1 and YS-11 on my first day. NAMC YS-11EB, 82-1155, Electronic Intelligence Squadron, JASDF Kawasaki C-1, 08-1030, 402nd Tactical Airlift Squadron, JASDF by Phil Childs, on Flickr Kawasaki T-4, 46-5716, 2nd Air Wing, JASDF by Phil Childs, on Flickr Cessna U-680A, 02-3031, Flight Check Squadron, JASDF by Phil Childs, on Flickr Gulfstream U-4, 95-3254, 402nd Tactical Airlift Squadron, JASDF by Phil Childs, on Flickr Sorry that was very long and a bit wordy, but hopefully of interest to some. 25 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latinbear Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 A terrific selection there Phil and thanks for sharing. The two Shin Meiwa's are outstanding! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CH-53D Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 Long and wordy? No problem with content that good! Thanks for sharing. Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 Excellent set of photographs Phil. It was very nice to meet you and hope the rest of stay with your family was enjoyable. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffreyK Posted March 16 Share Posted March 16 Excellent photos! I've been to Komatsu, sadly, the aggressors were not there at the time. Iwakuni is on my to-do list, I just never get round to going... Jeffrey 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Filler Posted March 17 Author Share Posted March 17 22 hours ago, HOUSTON said: Excellent set of photographs Phil. It was very nice to meet you and hope the rest of stay with your family was enjoyable. A pleasure to meet and chat with you too. I hope you enjoyed your trio to Japan in all aspects. 20 hours ago, JeffreyK said: Excellent photos! I've been to Komatsu, sadly, the aggressors were not there at the time. Iwakuni is on my to-do list, I just never get round to going... Jeffrey That's frustrating. I read recently that they deploy to other bases for about 100 days a year, so I guess a 1 in 3 chance of catching them at home. I'd definitely recommend visiting Iwakuni, but I'd advise checking the wind direction before going. You really do need stuff landing from the Hiroshima direction. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Riot Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 Those aggressor scheme Eagles are fantastic! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 Great photos, thanks Light grey single seat Eaglesare a dying breed... and the Japanes are the slickest of them all! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spooky56 Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 Lovely selection there Phil, your perseverance at Komatsu definitely paid off, and very pleased you lucked in with Iwakuni 😎 - Rick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dot Posted March 18 Share Posted March 18 Grat set of pictures Phil. You certainly made the most of the conditions and saw a wide variety of aircraft Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Filler Posted March 18 Author Share Posted March 18 Thanks Andy. I did get some good fortune with the weather, especially at Iwakuni and my first day at Iruma, and even though it didn't necessarily feel it at the time, at Komatsu too. It's still hard to get my head around the variety of types and schemes you can see in Japan. I still have to thank you though as without your advice I wouldn't be able to take advantage of the good weather and numerous types. On the modelling front, I didn't get to many shops in the end and just got this modest haul of tools and bits. Interestingly, the Mr Hobby Normal Blade for Modelling Saw I bought in the local hobby shop near my wife's family home cost 1600 yen, or £8.90. About a week after I bought it, by some coincidence I received an email notification from a UK online hobby shop that they were back in stock - at £27.27 inc p&p. Maybe next time I will commit more to the modelling pleasures of Japan! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted April 16 Share Posted April 16 Some fantastic shots of some rare machines in great camo. Thanks for sharing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandros Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 On 3/18/2024 at 6:07 PM, Filler said: Thanks Andy. I did get some good fortune with the weather, especially at Iwakuni and my first day at Iruma, and even though it didn't necessarily feel it at the time, at Komatsu too. It's still hard to get my head around the variety of types and schemes you can see in Japan. I still have to thank you though as without your advice I wouldn't be able to take advantage of the good weather and numerous types. On the modelling front, I didn't get to many shops in the end and just got this modest haul of tools and bits. Interestingly, the Mr Hobby Normal Blade for Modelling Saw I bought in the local hobby shop near my wife's family home cost 1600 yen, or £8.90. About a week after I bought it, by some coincidence I received an email notification from a UK online hobby shop that they were back in stock - at £27.27 inc p&p. Maybe next time I will commit more to the modelling pleasures of Japan! Maybe next time, consider buying online from one of the well-known Chinese platforms ..... There are insane offers regarding some of Tamiya, Iwata and similar products. BTW, great photos. Thank you very much. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 I'm glad that @sandros brought this back to the top, it's first appearance would have been in the middle of the hop harvest & my time on BM was limited. I really enjoyed your photos, especially the less common ones like the YS-11s, C-1s, Shin Meiwa, P-3s, T-4, & & & those other ones. Steve. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandros Posted August 19 Share Posted August 19 3 hours ago, stevehnz said: I'm glad that @sandros brought this back to the top, it's first appearance would have been in the middle of the hop harvest & my time on BM was limited. I really enjoyed your photos, especially the less common ones like the YS-11s, C-1s, Shin Meiwa, P-3s, T-4, & & & those other ones. Steve. Glad I helped! I like searching older topics, when; have my morning coffee, before I start working.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Filler Posted August 20 Author Share Posted August 20 Thanks gents. And it's nice that your responses have given me the chance to take a look at my photos again too. We take all these photos and so often go without looking at them again for a very long time. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted August 26 Share Posted August 26 Hello ... Hope you continue to post your Japan travels photographs from there especially the JAPAN'S colorful jets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Filler Posted August 27 Author Share Posted August 27 Thanks. My wife is taking our lad back in December, but I wasn't invited this time. Gutted!! Hopefully I can get there again next year though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrritableRabbit Posted September 1 Share Posted September 1 Awesome stuff there. Excellent and interesting subjects. So of course I'm also going to have to check out @Red Dot as well coz you're all living my dream it seems. Mind you, I hate rushing about, and I have so many things to do and visit in Japan that I may have to retire early so I can make the air trip worthwhile and stay for at least a month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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