Hyakuri 12 Jan 16

[TAFFEVANS]

30hrs in Narita so popped up for the Morning. darn cold with the temperature just above freezing and a wind chill 15mph wind thrown in. The little old Lady at the Gate gesticulated in Japanese that I was probably bonkers and after 3hrs I concurred! Had the viewing platforms all to myself! No sunshine and the photography was quite challenging with constant adjustments to the shutter speed and ISO settings, take-off photos were getting down to 1/200sec. There appears to be 2 'Blue' RF-4's now, the colour is nearly like a powder blue. Also unusual to see one of the T-4's with the Air Sampling Pod (I'm assuming that was the case as I haven't seen one before)















Visiting 3 Star General from Iruma



T-4 with I assume the Air Sampling Pod on the centreline.


T-4 from Gifu

[steved]

Nice pictures. Great to still see operational phantoms. Not too sure about the blue ones though !

[Jazz]

Great stuff, Taff, glad you made it
And clearly you made a lot of some naff weather, i can see you were cranking it up!
Interesting that there's now two blue Recce's, even if Woody has lost some face on the first

[p6025]

The lack of dangly bits/unit badges on the first blue recce ('901) almost certainly means it was on it's way Nagoya for overhaul ('IRAN').


Paul.

[TAFFEVANS]

The lack of dangly bits/unit badges on the first blue recce ('901) almost certainly means it was on it's way Nagoya for overhaul ('IRAN').


Paul.

That makes sense as it was airborne around 9am 'ish & hadn't returned by the time I left at 12. The other intriguing thing is that on most if not all of the F-4's on the nose in front of the windscreen there appears to be a strand of white string. I can only assume it's there for the low speed regime to avoid inducing too much yaw as the F-4 does have a reputation for departing controlled flight if you mishandle it, the only time I've seen something similar is on helicopters and the Harrier. Cheers

[p6025]

Did the 2nd Blue ('913) return? I see it had a luggage pod and saw an image of it landing at Gifu that day.


Paul.

[TAFFEVANS]

Did the 2nd Blue ('913) return? I see it had a luggage pod and saw an image of landing at Gifu that day.


Paul.

No, it also departed just after 9 and by the time I left at 12 still hadn't returned. They were the only F-4's that the 501 flew whilst I was there.

[paddyboy]

Hi Taph

Phabulous photos

Enouph to phorce a phellow oph my age to phaint

Phorgive the phalse alliteration

Brilliant shots, all

Phanks

Paddyboy

[powerslave]

Is it easy to get to from Tokyo?

Ian

[A20 DEK]

Hello Taff, long time no speak.

I guess having spent the time at Valley you have, you should be used to the cold and lack of sunshine. As for being 'bonkers'

Take care

Derek

[salem carmin]

When i was in Hyakuri, just one month ago; 913 was always brown and green!

[david14]

They are an excellent set - I do like the blue Phantoms, thanks

[Blackcat1]

Phaaaaaaantastic!!!! ;-)

[Lowfly11]

Mega-excellent selection of shots.Regards Tim

[teeonefixer]

Phroarrrrrr

[richpittman]

What have they done to 913

Was nice to see 901 in blue but please dont re paint them all

Nice shots mind

[p6025]

Was nice to see 901 in blue but please dont re paint them all

I heard they were only going to paint four.


Paul.

[DanBeeden]

These are lovely - the F-4 departures shots are especially nice - great work!

[The Phantom]

Rhino heaven

[MarkS]

Was nice to see 901 in blue but please dont re paint them all

I heard they were only going to paint four.


Paul.

Agreed , I also hear from a contact in the area that four are to be painted in the maritime recce blue colours