Hyakuri, Japan - 14th February.

[Lossie15]

Evening all, haven't posted here in a very long time simply because of the lack of military aircraft kicking around Scotland these days but heyho - means I've had to travel a bit for this lot.

Managed to squeeze a little bit of time out in Japan earlier on in the year and I obviously couldn't miss going to the Phantom base, Hyakuri. I cannot begin to tell you how incredible this place really is. Huge amount of flying, fantastic spotting locations, friendly locals and when I was there at least, sensational weather. All in all spent two days at the base and here's a pretty large batch of images from the first day. Will get round to posting the second at some point but I did as expected, take a huge amount of shots. Anyway, word on the street when I was visiting Iruma and Atsugi earlier on in the week, was that the aggressor F15s were based out of Hyakuri till the Thursday of that week. Bonus! Chuffed to bits with this news along with the hope of catching Phantoms, here's what Wednesday had to bring. Enjoy!


1.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 87-8404. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


2. Really impressed with the wee T4's. Lovely machines!
Japan Air Self Defence Force, Kawasaki T-4, 16-5670. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


3.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-15DJ Eagle, 92-8098. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


4.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas RF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 57-6912. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


5.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-15J Eagle, 32-8827. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


6.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-15J Eagle, 92-8096. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


7.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas RF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 57-6907. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


8.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 57-8367. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


9.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, Kawasaki T-4, 46-5718. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


10.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 67-8390. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


11.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 17-8440. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


12.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 67-8390. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


13.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas RF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 57-6907. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


14.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas RF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 77-6392. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


15.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-15DJ Eagle, 52-8088. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


16.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-15DJ Eagle, 32-8083.. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


17.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-15DJ Eagle, 32-8081. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


18.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 97-8426. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


19.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-15DJ Eagle, 72-8090. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


20.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, Kawasaki T-4, 66-5744. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


21.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, Raytheon U-125A, 02-3015. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


22.
Japan Ground Self Defence Force, Bell UH-1H Huey, JG-1916. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


23.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-15J Eagle, 72-8882. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


24. Couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this!
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-15DJ Eagle, 72-8090. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


25.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-15J Eagle, 22-8813. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


26.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-15J Eagle, 62-8868. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


27.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas RF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 57-6907.Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas RF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 57-6907. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


28. As the light moved round during the day, I headed over the other side to see what it was like.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 97-8421. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


29.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, Kawasaki T-4, 16-5670. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


30.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 97-8426. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


31.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 97-8417. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


32.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 97-8421. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


33.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 97-8427. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


34.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 07-8428. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


35.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas RF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 77-6392. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


36.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas RF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 57-6907. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


37.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 07-8428. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


38.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, Raytheon U-125A, 02-3015. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


39.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 97-8427. by Mark Leith, on Flickr


And yes, before you ask - this was all in one day of flying. I'd simply never seen anything like it before, non stop action from sunrise till after sunset. Hope you don't mind the amount of shots, but it's a pretty incredible place.

Here's one from the Thursday as a wee flavour of what's to come..

40.
Japan Air Self Defence Force, McDonnell Douglas RF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 47-6905. by Mark Leith, on Flickr

That's all for now. I'll be posting part 2 at some point but keep a look out for my Iruma and Atsugi images also.

Cheers,

Mark.

[Dave934]

That wasn't a bad day out was it !!!
Brilliant set of photos.
Dave.

[eagle driver]

Only word needed here, Phantastic! Lucky

[Yunglee]

It's is a long way to go, but there are a fantastic set of images

[smacken]

Superb set of images, this is on my bucket list , thanks sooo much for sharing

[cj9ru]

That looks like you had a fantastic day. Love the Phantoms!
Chris
PS
You are right about quiet...I live a couple of miles from Leuchars the silence is deafening :Oops:g

[Ross Forsyth]

Great set Mark and glad you enjoyed it! Good timing with the Kyodogun being there,it`s usually a week in February they arrive to play with the based units,its just getting the right week!

[MR TERRY GREEN]

Lovely f-4s really like the last one,awesome f-15 aggressors to.

[slogen51]

Wow fantastic post

I went in 1999 still using a film camera I badly need to visit Japan again

[garyscott]

Absolutely belting post! Love the Japanese F-4's, and that 8-SHIP!!?!

Cant wait for more . . . .

[Punkrunner62]

Top stuff Mark,the torture now continues here.No seriously absolutely brilliant to see your images here for us all to appreciate.
Cheers Mike.

[XWP29]

Possibly the best set of images posted here recently for me love those F-4’s

[Weazel69]

Aaah!! Drool Drool must be very nice to her indoors and do my best to get there just luv Phantoms miss them very much Weazel69

[prefontaine72]

Superb Mark love those Phantoms I must admit, looks like a worthwhile trip

Dougie

[paddyboy]

Hi Mark

Stunning selection of shots

No. 24

'Course, the Toom pics are the dogs

No. 39

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

[benno]

WOW! Brilliant! Superb photos, thanks for posting.

[Paultojo]

My goodness Mark simply awesome

[mike.p]

Great pictures .One question picture 4 seems to show the phantom on its landing still dumping fuel from the vent just below the fin. Why?
mike

[DeanW]

Jeez, you'd probably struggle to find a better day at a fence anywhere else. Superb mate.

[Rotörhead]

Excellent - love every single one!