Hi
Firstly thanks all for both looking and commenting.
As promised the following is a brief report and some photos from today's actual show day. Unfortunately, unlike the previous two days, there was significant cloud cover today matching lighting conditions challenging at times. I again decided to stay off base, with the hope that any of the visitors could be photographed on their departure. I think I made the correct choice.
The first official "movement" of the day was the arrival of the US Marine's MV-22B Osprey from Okinawa, shortly after 05:00. This was following at 07:30 by the arrival from Kanoya of a P-3 Orion and SH-60J Sea Hawk, by this time the base was alive to the sound of multiple jet engines running up. At 07:45 four T-4, four F-4 from 301 Hikotai, four F-15s from 23 Hikotai and four from the Aggressor squadron all launched, followed by one of the SAR unit's U-125 and UH-60J. Unfortunately the sun was obscured behind cloud at this time. The T-4s then did a run in before, 12 of the remaining jets - 3 F-4s and 6 F-15s performed a single mass flypast - great way to start a show.
Nyutabaru 07:45 Alarm Call by
nxgphotos, on Flickr[/url]
Cobra's forked tongue by
nxgphotos, on Flickr[/url]
Opening Flypast by
nxgphotos, on Flickr[/url]
The SAR unit kicked off the demonstrations, to the tune of Air Wolf, and were then following by two F-15s for 23 Hik. which again gave a similar display to yesterday. Next it was back to the Rhinos involving 301's special 40th Anniversary ship and a standard F-4. Thankfully the special bird did her turns a little closer to me compared to yesterday.
301Sqn Phantom Mother Squadron by
nxgphotos, on Flickr[/url]
Next up were the aggressor eagles
Aggressor Eagle by
nxgphotos, on Flickr[/url]
The C-1 departed and returned to perform three parachute drops. A second C-1, the third of the weekend, arrived shortly after 11:30
Para drop by
nxgphotos, on Flickr[/url]
Another G-IV arrived shortly after the second C-1 and as the clouds rolled in the flying stopped shortly before 12.
Mitsubishi F-2A by
nxgphotos, on Flickr[/url]
It wasn't until 13:15 that the sound of aircraft filled the air as the Blue Impulse Team started preparations. From taxi to shut down their routine is approximately 55mins. Compared to the previous days, their display was alot tamer and a lot, lot more distance....
Follow our smoke by
nxgphotos, on Flickr[/url]
After the Blue Impulse that was it, although the Osprey, making an appearance as Japan has agreed to become its first export customer, had its engines running for nearly thirty minutes before finally departing. I'm not sure that it went home to Okinawa as it seemed to take up a north east heading.
Japan's next new toy by
nxgphotos, on Flickr[/url]
As mentioned previously, one of the advantages of Japanese shows is that the visiting aircraft generally all depart immediately after the show. So with everyone leaving, we waited for the sun to appear and the visitors to depart. Sadly, the sun wasn't around for the super low departure of the F-2A but it was out for the departure of these beauties.
Kawasaki O-1 by
nxgphotos, on Flickr[/url]
Bell UH-1J by
nxgphotos, on Flickr[/url]
Japanese Army Cobra by
nxgphotos, on Flickr[/url]
Next stop Iruma by
nxgphotos, on Flickr[/url]
Setting sun on a YS-11 by
nxgphotos, on Flickr[/url]
Hope you enjoyed reading and looking through the photos. A great few days and would recommend anyone planning a trip to Japan around this time of year to work around the around show at Nyutabaru.
Cheers for looking.
Niall
