Japan 2002

Japan Trip 2002

Japan could be the Promised Land for all aviation photographers. Why is this country so special ? Well first of all, you will not find many military aircraft from Japan visiting Europe but that goes for other air forces in the far east as well. The most important reasons are the amount of airbases and aircraft in Nippon and the numerous amount of photo opportunities around the airbases here. When visiting an operational airbase in Europe you will A, not find much activity, seeing operational aircraft flying is mostly limited to 10 a day, B, not find as many good spots to take pictures from the outside of the base and C, sent away or get arrested in some countries. None of all that in the land of the rising sun where people, including the officials round the bases like MP and intelligence people, are very friendly and helpful, and seem to appreciate that you have travelled such a distance to come and see their aircraft.

After all the positive stories of various people who went the last few years, Arnold ten Pas (shutterspeed.nl), Maurice Hendriks and Fred van Horrik (both afterburner.nl), Sean Wilson (primeimages.co.uk) and Frank Noort decided to make a tour through Japan, visiting most of the primary Air Force, Army and Naval aviation bases.

The tour took place in October and November 2002. No base visits were requested as this is mostly not allowed in Japan, but as the country is quite flexible when it comes to taking pictures outside the bases plus the reasons described above, the team decided to rent a small van and drive trough the land of the rising sun. Below the map with the locations visited. Underneath the map, you will find the pictures during the trip. All pictures were slides and scanned using a Nikon Slidescanner.

59-5192 T-2 21 Hikotai, Matsushima,22-10-2002

Matsushima, oktober 22, 2002

29-5176 T-2 21 Hikotai, Matsushima,22-10-2002

Matsushima, oktober 22, 2002

59-5192 T-2 21 Hikotai, Matsushima,22-10-2002

Matsushima, oktober 22, 2002

89-5195 T-2 21 Hikotai, Matsushima,22-10-2002

Matsushima, oktober 22, 2002

79-5193 T-2 21 Hikotai - oktober 22, 2002

79-5193 T-2 21 Hikotai,22-10-2002

Matsushima, oktober 22, 2002

19-5168 T-2 21 Hikotai, Matsushima,22-10-2002

Matsushima, oktober 22, 2002

78-1021 EC-1 Denshi Shientai, Hyakuri,23-10-2002

Hyakuri, oktober 23, 2002

31144/SU OH-6D Kasumigaura Bunko, Kasumigaura,23-10-2002

Kasumigaura, oktober 23, 2002

29-3041 U-125 Hiko Tenkentai, Iruma,24-10-2002

Iruma, oktober 24, 2002

12-1162 YS-11EA Denshi Shientai, Iruma,24-10-2002

Iruma, oktober 24, 2002

78-1023 C-1 402 Hikotai, Iruma,24-10-2002

Iruma, oktober 24, 2002

5045 P-3C 51 Kokutai,25-10-2002

Atsugi, oktober 25, 2002

9163 UP-3D 91 Kokutai, Atsugi,25-10-2002

Atsugi, oktober 25, 2002

161293/NF-103 F-14A VF-154, Atsugi,25-10-2002

Atsugi, oktober 25, 2002

161276/NF-101 F-14A VF-154 - oktober 25, 2002

161276/NF-101 F-14A VF-154,25-10-2002

Atsugi, oktober 25, 2002

9087 US-1A 71 Kokutai, Atsugi,25-10-2002

Atsugi, oktober 25, 2002

9041 YS-11M 61 Kokutai, Atsugi,25-10-2002

Atsugi, oktober 25, 2002

12-8078 F-15DJ Hiko Kyodotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

78-1022 C-1 402 Hikotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

32-8063 F-15DJ 23 Hikotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

26-5687 T-4 HQ Flight, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

32-8080 F-15DJ Hiko Kyodotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

17-8437 F-4EJ Kai 302 Hikotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

unknown F-4EJ Kai 301 Hikotai - oktober 28, 2002

unknown F-4EJ Kai 301 Hikotai,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

97-8421 F-4EJ Kai 301 Hikotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

87-8408 F-4EJ Kai 301 Hikotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

72-8090 F-15DJ Hiko Kyodotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

12-8078 F-15DJ Hiko Kyodotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

32-8083 F-15DJ Hiko Kyodotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

02-8919 F-15J Hiko Kyodotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

82-8092 F-15DJ Hiko Kyodotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

37-8322 F-4EJ 302 Hikotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

97-8423 F-4EJ Kai 301 Hikotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

47-8340 F-4EJ Kai 301 Hikotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

67-8377 F-4EJ 302 Hikotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

72-8090 F-15DJ Hiko Kyodotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

02-8071 F-15DJ Hiko Kyodotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

12-8054 F-15DJ 23 Hikotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

82-8091 F-15DJ Hiko Kyodotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

12-8078 F-15DJ Hiko Kyodotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

32-8080 F-15DJ Hiko Kyodotai, Nyutabaru,28-10-2002

Nyutabaru, oktober 28, 2002

00-8235 F-1 6 Hikotai, Tsuiki,29-10-2002

Tsuiki, oktober 29, 2002

20-8264 F-1 6 Hikotai, Tsuiki,29-10-2002

Tsuiki, oktober 29, 2002

00-8235 F-1 6 Hikotai, Tsuiki,29-10-2002

Tsuiki, oktober 29, 2002

60-8275 F-1 6 Hikotai, Tsuiki,29-10-2002

Tsuiki, oktober 29, 2002

60-8275 F-1 6 Hikotai, Tsuiki,29-10-2002

Tsuiki, oktober 29, 2002

32-8085 F-15J 304 Hikotai, Tsuiki,29-10-2002

Tsuiki, oktober 29, 2002

6318 T-5 201 Kyoiku Kukotai, Ozuki,29-10-2002

Ozuki, oktober 29, 2002

32605/S OH-1 Akeno Honko, Akeno,30-10-2002

Akeno, oktober 30, 2002

32605/S OH-1 Akeno Honko, Akeno,30-10-2002

Akeno, oktober 30, 2002

52906/SK CH-47J Kasumigaura Bunko, Akeno,30-10-2002

Akeno, oktober 30, 2002

JA-9562 UH-1 Coast Guard,30-10-2002

, oktober 30, 2002

31169/SK OH-6D nn, Akeno,30-10-2002

Akeno, oktober 30, 2002

73454 AH-1S nn, Akeno,30-10-2002

Akeno, oktober 30, 2002

22016/SU LR-1 Utsunomiya Bunko, Akeno,30-10-2002

Akeno, oktober 30, 2002

92-8906 F-15J nm, Komaki,30-10-2002

Komaki, oktober 30, 2002

67-8390 F-4EJ Kai nm, Komaki,30-10-2002

Komaki, oktober 30, 2002

85-1079 C-130H 401 Hikotai, Komaki,30-10-2002

Komaki, oktober 30, 2002

63-8501 XF-2A Hiko Kaihatsu Jikkendan, Gifu,31-10-2002

Gifu, oktober 31, 2002

07-8431 F-4EJ Hiko Kaihatsu Jikkendan, Gifu,31-10-2002

Gifu, oktober 31, 2002

63-8102 XF-2B Hiko Kaihatsu Jikkendan, Gifu,31-10-2002

Gifu, oktober 31, 2002

29-5102 XT-2 Hiko Kaihatsu Jikkendan, Gifu,31-10-2002

Gifu, oktober 31, 2002

59-5106 FST-2 Hiko Kaihatsu Jikkendan, Gifu,31-10-2002

Gifu, oktober 31, 2002

5035 P-3C nm, Gifu,31-10-2002

Gifu, oktober 31, 2002

22-4487 CH-47J Iruma Herikoputa Kuyutai, Iruma,02-11-2002

Iruma, november 02, 2002

98-1029 C-1 402 Hikotai, Iruma,02-11-2002

Iruma, november 02, 2002

Blue Impulse, Iruma, T-4 Blue Impulse - november 02, 2002

Blue Impulse, Iruma, T-4 Blue Impulse,02-11-2002

Iruma, november 02, 2002

42-8833 F-15J 303 Hikotai, Iruma,02-11-2002

Iruma, november 02, 2002

74-4842 KV107 II-A5 Hamamatsu Kyunantai, Iruma,02-11-2002

Iruma, november 02, 2002

34-3461 E-2C 601 Hikotai, Iruma,02-11-2002

Iruma, november 02, 2002

34-3461 E-2C 601 Hikotai, Iruma,02-11-2002

Iruma, november 02, 2002

27-8306 F-4EJ 8 Hikotai, Iruma,02-11-2002

Iruma, november 02, 2002

06-5645 T-4 Sotai Shireibu Hikotai, Iruma,02-11-2002

Iruma, november 02, 2002