Japan - November/December 2019

[Kevin Martin]

November and December 2019 saw me make my third trip to Japan in three years (its addictive!) for 3 weeks of almost non stop aviation heaven. Although as ever weather will always stop play from time to time, 14 locations were due to be visited, with only a few unsuccessful due to weather or change of plans. The trip started of in stlye after picking up a hire car in Osaka, and then following a 12 ship formation of army helicopters to the nearby JGSDF Osaka Yao show, which until then we knew nothing about. Luck wasn't always on our side though with days at Akeno, Iruma, Kadena and Gifu effectivly ruined by weather or choosing not to go at all. Gives me an excuse to try again soon!

Lots of photo's to get through, so thanks for looking, with any comments and discussion always welcome, and good to meet up again with the ever growing band of travellers once again..

Thanks;

Kevin
www.flickr.com/kevinmartin1



1. JASDF Komatsu F-15 26.11.19

Japan 2019 - Komatsu by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

2. JASDF Hyakuri RF-4 30.11.19

Japan 2019 - JASDF Hyakuri by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

3. JASDF Naha P-3 4.12.19

Japan 2019 - JASDF Naha/Okinawa by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

4. JMSDF Kanoya TH-135 12.12.19

Japan 2019 - JMSDF Kanoya by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

5. JASDF Tsuiki F-2 10.12.19

Japan 2019 - JASDF Tsuiki by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

6. JMSDF Ozuki 9.12.19

Japan 2019 - JMSDF Ozuki by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

7. JASDF Nyutabaru 13.12.19

Japan 2019 - Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr


Komatsu Tuesday 26.11.19

My only previous experience of Komatsu 2 years previous wasn't a great one, spoilt by some grim weather despite lots of flying. This time was more or less the opposite, nice weather but OK levels of flying. I also finally got to see some Aggressor F-15's in sunlight at last, and the evening flying finished the day of nicely.

8. Aggressor F-15's

Japan 2019 - Komatsu by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Komatsu by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Komatsu by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

11. One visitor during the day, an Iruma based U-4

Japan 2019 - Komatsu by Kevin Martin, on Flickr


As the sun was beginning to fade away, another wave of F-15 launches started in the setting sun, making for some nicely lit shots.

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Komatsu by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Komatsu by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Komatsu by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Komatsu by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Komatsu by Kevin Martin, on Flickr


Either side of Komatsu was two visits to Gifu, another place I've not had much luck with weather before...and still havn't! Plenty of sunshine but always when there was nothing happening unfortunatly. A good mix of F-4's, F-15's, F-2's and more but overall I left frustrated again.


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Japan 2019 - Gifu by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - Gifu by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

With the flying a bit slow and the weather not too great, I finally got to have a quick look around the nearby museum.

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Japan 2019 - Gifu by Kevin Martin, on Flickr


Next up was a look at Atsugi and Iruma, but I barely even left the car due to very poor weather. So next up was Hyakuri, for the open days to celebrate the upcomming sad demise of the Japanese F-4's, and in particular the RF-4's

20. JASDF Hyakuri F-4 Flypast

Japan 2019 - Hyakuri by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Hyakuri by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - Hyakuri by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Hyakuri by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

24. Base Rescue Squadron

Japan 2019 - JASDF Hyakuri by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - Hyakuri by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Hyakuri by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Hyakuri by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Hyakuri by Kevin Martin, on Flickr


27. The Blue Impulse were also present at Hyakuri to distract from the Phantoms briefly.

Japan 2019 - JASDF Hyakuri Air Fiesta by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Hyakuri by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Hyakuri by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Hyakuri by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Hyakuri by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Hyakuri by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Hyakuri by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Hyakuri by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Hyakuri by Kevin Martin, on Flickr


Enough F-4's for now, although they are still to pop up from time to time over the remainder of the trip. Next stop was Naha, on the island of Okinawa. Six days was spent here, partly to slow the pace down after an exhausting week, and partly as you need so many days sometimes to get some good weather, with only two and a half days out of the six being dry. It didnt feel like it at the time, but I was happy with the results by the time it came to move on again.

36. JASDF Naha E-2

Japan 2019 - JASDF Naha by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

37. P-3

Japan 2019 - JASDF Naha/Okinawa by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Naha/Okinawa by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Naha by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Naha by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Naha/Okinawa by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Naha/Okinawa by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Naha by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Naha/Okinawa by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Naha/Okinawa by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Naha by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Naha/Okinawa by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

47a. A P-3 (its definitely in there) in the circuit at Naha

Japan 2019 - Naha by Kevin Martin, on Flickr


Naha Air Fiesta, held over 2 days with lots of rain and high winds one day, perfect sunshine the next. The night shots were done in the worst of the weather, with only a handful salvageable..

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Naha by Kevin Martin, on Flickr


While on Okinawa, it was hoped to fit in a day at Kadena in good weather, but it was not to be..

48a.

Japan 2019 - USAF Kadena by Kevin Martin, on Flickr



Next up is probably the part of the trip I enjoyed most, with the last week spent largly in the Kyushu region, only really leaving for a day to visit Iwakuni and Ozuki

49. JMSDF Ozuki

Japan 2019 - JMSDF Ozuki by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JMSDF Ozuki by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JMSDF Ozuki by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JMSDF Ozuki by Kevin Martin, on Flickr


Iwakuni next, glorious day, wrong end as usual for this frustrating base full of F-18's, F-35's and much more. We were due to spend 2 days here but binned the second as I couldn't face having to shoot all the nice stuff into the sun...

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Japan 2019 - MCAS Iwakuni by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - MCAS Iwakuni by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - MCAS Iwakuni by Kevin Martin, on Flickr


After some really good days at Tsuiki the previous year, I hadn't really planned on going back so soon, but with Iwakuni's disappointment behind us it was the nearest most obvious choice, plus I was hoping to get the colourful display jet, which we was sucsessful in doing so.

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Tsuiki by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Tsuiki by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Tsuiki by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Tsuiki by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Tsuiki by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - Tsuiki by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Tsuiki by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Tsuiki by Kevin Martin, on Flickr


JMSDF Kanoya was the penultimate stop, and much better than I expected it to be, and all in some lovely weather again. A bit of exploration was needed through some narrow tracks and trees, but we arrived at the end of the runway just in time for the first P-3's and P-1's of the day.

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Japan 2019 - JMSDF Kanoya by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JMSDF Kanoya by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JMSDF Kanoya by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JMSDF Kanoya by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JMSDF Kanoya by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JMSDF Kanoya by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JMSDF Kanoya by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JMSDF Kanoya by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JMSDF Kanoya by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JMSDF Kanoya by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JMSDF Kanoya by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

A quick stop at the base museum at lunch time to shoot the outside exhibits.

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Japan 2019 - Kanoya Air Base Museum by Kevin Martin, on Flickr


Finally, last destination for the trip, Nyutabaru for some regular flying action from the based F-15's and also just in time for the annual air show. Despite the outside southern areas being on somewhat of a bit of a lockdown, some workaround's were possible with some early starts to get into a good position for the flying. I never went in the halcyon days of the F-4's and Aggressor Eagles being based here, but it was good to see a couple of Phantoms take part in the flying, presumably for the final time.

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Japan 2019 - Nyutabaru F-15J by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr


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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Untitled by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

85. Visiting EC-1

Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr


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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr


89. C-2

Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

90. US-2

Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Jaoan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Nyutabaru by Kevin Martin, on Flickr

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Japan 2019 - JASDF Hyakuri by Kevin Martin, on Flickr



Thanks for looking, and if your interested there are about 500 more and counting at www.flickr.com/kevinmartin1/sets

Cheers;

Kevin

[p6025]

Superb as usual Kev.

[James Cutting]

Just what I needed to see on my lunch break!

I couldn't pick a favourite, so many great pictures and awesome to see the variety of aggressor F-15's Looks like you had a very good trip overall, would love to get over there one time (even if I have to miss the Phantoms!)

Thanks Kev.

[warthog56]

What a fabulous post - blown away by the variety of aircraft and so many different colour schemes. Just makes me depressed knowing that I'll never get over there to see them for real. Thanks so much for brightening a misty grey day here i Nottingham.

[Ross Forsyth]

Great set of images,quite a trip!

[SpilsbyPete]

Fantastic

What happened to the guy in No 60

[Blackcat1]

Lovely colourful photo collection!

[Dave934]

A first class set of shots.
Dave.

[stevek59]

Not sure how it can get much better than this. Awesome stuff.
Great post.

[matt e]

superb

[Reaper02]

Great shots Kev, thanks for sharing! Like the aggressor F-15's (I had none when I was there last month as it turned out to be a unknown non-flying day ) And love the F-4's ofcourse!!!

Edwin
www.final-approach.nl

[hawgwash]

Such beautiful aircraft in wonderful light. Thank you for posting.

Matt
Fort Worth

[paddyboy]

Hi Kevin

What an awesome post

20 early morning minutes well spent perusing those

Got to be those 'tooms for me

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

[LTFT5]

Stunning post Kev.
Glad the trip paid dividends.
All the best
Andy

[Heal1979]

Amazing journey around bases of Japan, Kev! Excellent selection!
Cheer,
Chris

[Imac]

Top set, look forward to your next post

[HighFlyer21]

Fantastic variety.

[Kevin Martin]

Fantastic

What happened to the guy in No 60

They were trying to grab hold of the parachute's prior to release for some odd reason, rather than just picking them up of the floor.

Thanks all for the kind comments too.

Kevin

[photojet]

Fantastic selection of aircraft love the phantom shots.

[BFM]

Wow what an amazing set of photographs , thanks for sharing.