Airshow at Iruma Air Force Base

Airshow at Iruma Air Force Base
**** Airshow in Japan ****

"Delta roll" maneuver by Blue Impulse 2009 (for enlargement see below)
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Iruma AFB on November 3 2009
Blessed with exellent weather, the number of the visitors is reportedly climbing to 1600,000. Indeed, it is a cost-effective answer in this time of recession to the catharsis of good citizen (In Japan, no admission fee is required for air show at AFBs of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, JASDF). This time I shoot with Nikon digital single-lense reflex camera D70s, which I actually borrowed from my wife today, paired with old manual tele lense Nikkor*ED 300 mm 1:4.5 (serial# 226570) and monopod. A few images below are shot with AF-S DX Nikkor 55-200 mm autofocus lense (specified in the caption, otherwise shot in manual focus/manual exposure mode with Nikkor 300 mm, 1/1000 shutter-speed priority, exposure adjusted ad libitum checking with monitor screen, actually F 8-11).

Kawasaki T-4 Trainer Jet on landing after demonstration flight (jpg 70KB)
Kawasaki T-4 Trainer Jet on display (jpg 101KB, AF-X DX)

Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) F-15J Eagle on display (jpg 161KB, AF-X DX)

Boeing/Sikorsky CH-47 Chinook from Hamamatsu Air Rescue Wing, reputedly the last one to retire, demonstrating hovering (jpg 66KB)

Kawasaki OH-1 reconnaissance helicopter "Ninja" from Ground-Defence Force (jpg 76KB, AF-X DX)
Ditto, nose section enlarged (jpg 76KB, AF-X DX)

Kawasaki C-1 transport aircraft, performing flypast (jpg 147KB)
Ditto, on landing after demonstration flight (jpg 86KB)

U-4 Multi-purpose supporting jet (Gulfstream IV), nose section (jpg 76KB)
Ditto, tail section (jpg 91KB)

Blue Impulse:
Kawasaki T-4 on waiting (jpg 181KB)
Kawasaki T-4 (tail section jpg 52KB)
Kawasaki T-4 in-line on the tarmac (jpg 181KB, AF-X DX)
Kawasaki T-4 at the ready, engine starting, "Here we go, gentlemen (and lady ;) (jpg 68KB)
"Change over turn", opening (jpg 101KB)
"Change over turn", intermediate action (jpg 23KB)
"Change over turn", finishing action (jpg 52KB)
"Half slow roll" (jpg 22KB)
"Four-ship invert" (jpg 144KB)
"Wide-to-delta loop" (jpg 52KB)
"Delta roll", posterior-half maneuver (jpg 52KB)
"Star cross", introductory maneuver, "Break, Ready,,,Now" (jpg 19KB)
"Slow roll" (jpg 164KB)
"Rolling combat pitch" (jpg 88KB)
Job well done (jpg 148KB)

Leaving Iruma AFB for home base:
Bell AH-1s Huey Cobra and Kawasaki OH-1 (jpg 85KB)
Lockeed Martin C130H Hercules (jpg 76KB)

Iruma AFB on November 3 2010
Blessed with exellent weather and recession, the number of the visitors is reportedly climbing to 280,000. This time I shoot with Nikon digital single-lense reflex camera D3000, which I purchased lately, paired with old manual tele lense Nikkor*ED 300 mm 1:4.5 (serial# 226570) and Nikkor-S 35 mm 1:2.8 (serial# 380104) with monopod (manual focus/manual exposure mode).

Just after getting out of the train of Seibu Ikebukuro Line, I get stuck in a jam before entering the Base (jpg 104KB).

U-125A air rescue plane (Originally de Havilland Aircraft Company DH.125 - Hawker Siddeley HS. 125 - British Aerospace BAe 125 jpg 77KB, 98KB)

Boeing/Sikorsky CH-47JA Chinook of the Iruma AFB Aerial Transportation Unit, demonstrating cargo transport with span wire (jpg 54KB)

Blue Impulse:
Prepared at the tarmac, landscape (jpg 88KB)
Prepared at the tarmac, overview of a Kawasaki T-4 (jpg 164KB)
Prepared at the tarmac, front section with tele lense (jpg 229KB)
Prepared at the tarmac, middle section with tele lense (jpg 254KB)
Departure (jpg 136KB)
Departure just before my eyes (jpg 49KB)
Fan Break (jpg 99KB)
Change Over Turn (jpg 71KB, jpg 22KB, jpg 85KB )
Inverted and Continuous Roll (jpg 57KB)
Rain Fall (jpg 112KB, jpg 60KB)
Diamond Loop (jpg 82KB, jpg 127KB, jpg 144KB, jpg 87KB, jpg 86KB)
Four-Ship Invert (jpg 84KB, jpg 91KB)
Delta loop (jpg 68KB, jpg 103KB, jpg 111KB)
Cork Screw (jpg 81KB, jpg 94KB)
Rolling Combat Pitch (jpg 48KB, jpg 64KB, jpg 46KB)
Closing Sequence (jpg 87KB, jpg 84KB, jpg 117KB, jpg 110KB)
Preparing for return home (jpg 157 KB, jpg 186 KB)
Bye-Bye for next time (jpg 93KB, jpg 124KB, jpg 120KB)

Leaving Iruma AFB for home base:
UH-60J Air Rescue Command, Hyakuri AFB (jpg 127 KB, jpg 134 KB)
Bell AH-1s Huey Cobra and Kawasaki OH-1 reconnaissance helicopter "Ninja", from Ground-Defence Force (jpg 122KB)
F-2 Tactital Fighter of the 8th Squardron from Misawa AFB, so-called "Black Panther" SQ's #53-8531 (jpg 56KB, jpg 43KB)
YS-11 of the Flight Inspection Squardron #52-1151 (jpg 139KB, jpg 144KB)
F-15J Eagle of the 306 Squardron from Kotatsu AFB (jpg 134 KB, jpg 172 KB)

Iruma AFB on November 3 2011
The weather was not so fovorable and overcast, though, the number of the visitors is reportedly 160,000. This time I shoot with Nikon digital single-lense reflex camera D3000, paired with old manual wide lense Nikkor-S 35 mm 1:2.8 (serial# 380104, manual focus/manual exposure mode) and AF-S DX Nikkor 55-200 mm, in fact, I forgot to bring Nikkor*ED 300 mm from Hayama.

Boeing (ex-McDonnell Douglas) RF-4E Phantom from 501 Squadron, Hyakuri AFB (for enlargement see below)

Blue Impulse:
Now showtime (jpg 431KB)
Start moving Kawasaki T-4 (jpg 276KB)
Advanicing on the runway (jpg 540KB)
Cleared for takeoff (jpg 324KB)
Formation flight after the takeoff (jpg 370KB)
Returning in formation on the runway after landing (jpg 233KB)

Boeing (ex-McDonnell Douglas) RF-4E Phantom: Front view (560KB). Kanji characters on the port air-intake lip mean
"When I meet enemy, I will take pictures at any price!"
Vertical fin is painted for the 50th anniversary of this squadron.
Enlarged view of the nose section with shark mouth (323KB)
Port outer pylon of external fuel tank (476KB)
Tail section with afterburner nozzle (356KB), showing texture of burnt titanium
Pivot of the tailplane of all-flyingtype (471KB)

F-2 Tactital Fighter Photostiched overview (634KB), from JASDF 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Black Panther"
Before a backdrop of the Blue Impulse on the tarmac (234KB)

UH-60J Air Rescue Command, Hyakuri AFB Enlarged front view(854KB)
Takeoff (422KB)

Iruma AFB on November 3 2012

"Wide delta loop" maneuver by Blue Impulse 2012 (for enlargement see below @Blue Impulse - Aerial performance)
The weather was fovorable with occasionally overcast but often clear. Crowd at the entrance to the AFB from the local train station, and landscape in the venue. Visitor: 220,000! according to news report in Japanese. Cheap recreation for a hospital pathologist, too, with no entrance charge and with only local transportation expenses (circa 1000 Yen). This time I shoot with Nikon digital single-lense reflex camera D3000, mainly paired with new AF-S lense Nikkor-S DX Nikkor 55-200 mm (serial #3706760), occasionally with seasoned manural Nikkor*ED 300 mm and cheap compact digital Nikon Coolpix L23.

Victory run of London Olympic winners
Hitomi Obara, Captain in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, with a women's 48kg freestyle wrestling Gold, Shin-ichi Yumoto, second company officer of Ground Self-Defence Force, with a men's 55kg freestyle male wrestling bronze medal, and Satoshi Shimizu, with a boxing bronze medal in the men's bantamweight division.

CH-47J Chinook
Two cargos are labeled "Keep your chin up" and "Nippon (Japan)", respectively -1, -2

ACM maneuver by F-15J 2012 (for enlargement see just below @ -7-)
F-15J from Flight Test Squadron at Gifu AFB - Aerial maneuver
Touch and go maneuver: -1- (Low-speed approach at high attack angle with landing gear extending, undercarriage for Brits ;) , -2- (retracting undercarriage rapidly), -3- (full throttle), -4-, -5- (disengagement), -6- (keen head-on maneuver), -7- (leaving swirling current from the wing tip)

Blue Impulse - Show time
Pilots are marching, and separating to each aircraft
Putting on Anti-G suit
We are all set
Here we go, gentlemen Electric power source cars are leaving
Departing for runway in file
Waving hand to spectators (commons) from cockpit

Blue Impulse - Aerial performanc
Take-off (Coolpix L23)
Ditto, just after take-off, shifting to diamond formation
Returning to the runway with landing lights on
Fan break
Change over turn -1-, -2- (Coolpix L23), -3-
Inverted continuous roll -1-, -2-
Four-ship invert -1-, -2-, -3-
Vertical cupid (Coolpix L23) -1-, -2-, -3-, -2-
Change over loop -1-, -2-, -3- (transforming to a diamond formation), -4-, -5- (looping), -6-, -7- (rolling), -8- (disengagement)
Line abreast roll -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-
360-degrees turn and roll -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8- (smoke off and disengagement)
Wide delta loop -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-
Delta roll -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-
Delta loop -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-, -10-
Bonton roll
Upward Air Bloom -1-, -2-, -3-, "Break ready, now", -4-, -5-, -6- （Coolpix L23), and Star Cross, -7- （ditto),-7- （ditto), -8- （ditto).

Blue Impulse - Incident Report
Abruptly the announce was made that the remaining performance is canceled because of malfunction of instrument gauge, then No.1 is low flypasting over the runway in right-to-left direction, then No.2 was landing and returning from the left end of the runway to front of us, and safely stopped at the starting point. No.1 followed. After the end of the show, intensive inspection was concentrated on No.2.

C130H Hercules
C130H from 401 Squadron at Komaki AFB is leaving Iruma AFB -1, -2

Kawasaki OH-1
Preparing going home

Lockeed P3C
5097, from Atsugi AFB, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, , enlarged view of T56A-14 turboprop engines

Iruma AFB on November 3 2014

"Fan Break" by Blue Impulse 2014 (for enlargement see just below @ Fan Break)
The weather was relatively fovorable, not perfect though. I tried to intrude the Iruma AFB successfully, this time not through the main gate but through backroad on the opposite side of the station (through the platform not from central Tokyo, but from far Saitama). Landscape in the venue. Visitor: 290,000! according to the official announcement. Cheap recreation for a hospital pathologist, as usual, with no entrance charge and with only local transportation expenses (circa 1000 Yen). This time I shoot with Nikon digital single-lense reflex camera D3000, mainly paired with new AF-S lense Nikkor-S DX Nikkor 55-200 mm (serial #3706760), occasionally with seasoned manual Nikkor*ED 300 mm and cheap compact digital Nikon Coolpix S02.

I, or we, do not drink water since the very morning to suppress the desire to urinate, because of once you got the favorable location for as possible as close of the front line you cannot retreat to urinate and abandon your vantage point!

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CH-47J Chinook

Two cargos are labeled "The 60th Foundation Anniversary" and "Japan Air Defense Force", respectively.

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Blue Impulse - Show time

Pilots are marching, and separating to each aircraft

Checking-in step-by-step.

Departing for runway in file, waving hand to spectators (commons) from cockpit.

Blue Impulse - Aerial performance

Diamond Take-off and Dirty Turn, after taking-off, returning in clock-wise turn to the runway and the gallery with landing lights on.

Fan Break: -1-, -2-.

Change over turn: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-.

Change Over Loop: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-, -10-.

Four-Ship Invert: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4- "Break, now".

360 Degrees Turn & Loop: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-, -10-, -11-.

Sakura: -1-, -2- (shot with Nikon Coolpix S02). Because of too strong north wind, six rings remains only for a short period.

Wide To Delta Loop: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-, -10-, -11-.

Corkscrew: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, "Break, now" -7-.

Closing sequence: Supporting techincal staff, preparing for the return of the team -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, Courtesy to the spirits of the traditional warriors in Nippon (Japan), as usual -6-.

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F-2A from JASDF 3rd Air Wing at Misawa AB

Close-up view of the cockpit -1-, -2-, Overview -3-, Returning to the home base -4-

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Participants from the US Forces

Low-key, low-profile, notwithstanding, very very important bystander.

Bell UH-1-1-, -2-.

Beechcraft C-12J (1900C-1) of United States Air Force -3-, -4-, Good-bye, Friends! -5-. According to this page,
this plane is also observed, at Yokota AB on 2007.08.26 and at Iwakuni AB on 2008.05.05. , it seems.

Iruma AFB on November 3 2015

"Corkscrew" by Blue Impulse 2015 (for enlargement see just below @ Corkscrew)
Weather condition is very good, and this time I can enter the Iruma AFB fairly easily from the front gate - Landscape in the venue. Visitor: 200,000! according to the official announcement. This time I shoot with Nikon digital single-lense reflex camera D3000, mainly paired with seasoned manual Nikkor*ED 300 mm (serial# 226570), without monopod, and occasionally with cheap compact digital Nikon Coolpix S02.
As usual, I, or we, do not drink water since the very morning to suppress the desire to urinate, because of once you got the favorable location, i.e., the front line, you cannot retreat to urinate and abandon your vantage point!
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CH-47J Chinook

With two cargos, Maintenance work with devotion

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Kawasaki C-1 Transport

-1-, -2-, -3- (dummy dropped for confirmation of the direction of the wind), -4-, -5-, -6- parachute drop demonstrated by air-born devision at Narashino, -7-, -8-, -9-, -10-.

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Blue Impulse - Aerial performance

Diamond Take-off and Dirty Turn -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-: After taking-off, returning in clock-wise turn to the runway and the gallery with landing lights on.

Fan Break: -1-

Change Over Turn: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-.

Vertical Climb Roll: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-.

Change Over Loop: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-, -10-.

Four-Ship Invert: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5- "Break, now".

360 Degrees Turn & Loop: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-.

Wide To Delta Loop: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-.

Delta Loop: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-, -10-, -11-.

Bonton Roll: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-.

Upward Air Bloom: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-.

Tag Cross: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-.

Combat Rolling Pitch: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-.

Corkscrew: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-, -10-, -11-, -12-, -13-, -14- "Break, now".

Delta Roll: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-.

Star Cross: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-.

Vertical Cupid: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-.

Ending: -1-, -2-.

Iruma AFB on November 3 2016

"Delta Loop" by Blue Impulse 2016 (for enlargement see just below @ Delta loop)
Weather condition is very good, and this time I enter the Iruma AFB from not through the main gate but through backroad on the opposite side of the station - Landscape in the venue. Visitor: 130,000 according to the official announcement. This time I shoot with Nikon digital single-lense reflex camera D3000, mainly paired with seasoned manual Nikkor*ED 300 mm (serial# 226570, shutter speed 1/1000 second, at distance infinity), without monopod, and occasionally with compact digital Canon PowerShot SX280 HS. I luckily secured the favorable location, i.e., the front line, keeping vantage point!
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Kawasaki C-1 Transport

-1-, -2- parachute drop demonstrated by air-born division at Narashino, -3-, -4-, -5- demonstration flight, -6- just after landing, -7- parked at the tarmac.

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Blue Impulse - Aerial performance

Waiting for clearance: - -1-, -2-, -3-

Diamond Take-off: -1-

Fan Break: -1-, -2-

Rain Fall: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-.

Vertical Climb Roll: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-.

Trail-to-Diamond: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-, -10-, -11-, -12-, -13-, -14-, -15-.

Four-Ship Invert: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6- "Break, now".

Vertical Cupid: -1-, -2-.

Line Abreast Roll: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-.

360 Degrees Turn & Loop: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-, -10-, -11-, -12-, -13-, -14-, -15-, -16-, -17-, -18-, -19-, -20-, -21-, -22-.

Wide To Delta Loop: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-.

Delta Roll: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-, -10-, -11-, -12-, -13-, -14-, -15-, -16-, -17-.

Delta Loop: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-, -10-, -11-, -12-, -13-, -14-, -15-, -16-, -17-, -18-, -19-.

Bonton Roll: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-.

Upward Air Bloom: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-.

Star Cross: -1-, -2-, -3-.

Combat Rolling Pitch: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-.

Corkscrew: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-.

Landing - Ending : -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-.

(To view images, click the underlined title. To return to this page, click *return* on your web browser, アンダーラインの部分をクリックすると画像がポップアップします、このページに戻るにはブラウザーの「戻る」あるいは「←」をクリックしてください)

Iruma AFB on November 3 2018

C-1 transporter painted Kabuki-style (for enlargement see just below C-1)
Weather condition is very good, but with minimal fog, and this time, too, I enter the Iruma AFB from not through the main gate but through backroad north gate - Landscape in the venue. Visitor: 190,000 according to the official announcement. This time I shoot with three Nikon digital cameras, D3000, D70s and D5100 (actually I borrow this new one from Mineko), mainly paired with seasoned manual Nikkor*ED 300 mm (serial# 226570), without monopod, and AF-S Nikkor 55-200 mm 4-5.6 G ED and AF-S Nikkor 18-70 mm 3.5-4.5 G ED. I luckily secured the favorable location, this year too, i.e., the second front line.
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YS-11 FC

YS-11 -1-, -2- , -3-, -4-, -5-.

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U-125A

U-125A -1-.

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UH-60J

UH-60J -1-.

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CH-47j

CH-47j -1-.

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C-1

C-1 -1-, -2-, Kabuki-style painted C-1 -3-, -4-, -5-.

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C-1 with parachute troop

Parachute troop from Narashino, -1-, -2-, -3-.

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T-4 in formation

Take-off -1-, -2-, -3-, Marching in formation -4-, -5-, Combat Rolling Pitch -6-, -7-, Landing -8-, -9-, Job well-done ! -10-.

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Blue Impulse - Aerial performance

Waiting before noon: -1-.

Walk down finished: -1-.

Start moving: -1-.

Diamond Take-off and Dirty Turn: -1-.

Change Over Turn: -1-, -2-,

Change Over Turn -3- (Crick to enlarge) (change over turn, continued) -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-, -10-.

Inverted and Continuous Roll: -1-.

Fan Break: -1-.

Trail-to-Diamond: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-

Vertical Cupid: -1-, -2-, -3-.

Change Over Loop: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-, -10-, -11-, -12-.

360 Degrees Turn & Loop: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-, -10-, -11-, -12-, -13-, -14-, -15-, -16-.

Wide to Delta Loop: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-, -10-, -11-, -12-, -13-, -14-.

Delta Roll: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-, -10-.

Delta Loop: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-, -9-, -10-, -11-, -12-, -13-, -14-, -15-, -16-, -17-.

Combat Rolling Pitch: -1-, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-, -6-, -7-, -8-.

Landing - Ending : -1-, -2-, -3-.

Iruma AFB on November 3 2019

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