First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Photos of operational aircraft from bases, airports and "spotter" outings
Post Reply
User avatar
CH79
Posts: 221
Joined: Tue 08 Nov 2011, 9:08 pm
Location: Norwich, Norfolk
Contact:

First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by CH79 »

Hello,

Between the 12th and 18th of April this year Jon Haylock and I visited Japan for the first time. In particular, we visited the Tokyo area which plays host to the airbases Hyakuri, Atsugi and Iruma. All are within a reasonable distance of each other (well, a 3-hour drive anyway).

Having seen many images (mostly from this forum) on Hyakuri we simply had to go get some Phantom! We planned to be at Hyakuri for the week but if weather and time allowed, a trip to Astugi and/or Iruma would be in order.

The images below represent part one of the trip at Hyakuri. Before we left the UK we knew that Monday and Tuesday would be difficult, with heavy rain forecast for each day. This provided different opportunities photographically, but we crossed our fingers for good weather from Wednesday onwards...

1.
ImageRF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 47-6901, 501 Hikotai by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
2.
ImageRF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 47-6901, 501 Hikotai by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
3.
ImageF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 07-8435, 302 Hikotai by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
4.
ImageF-15J Eagle, 62-8870, 305th Sqn by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
5.
ImageF-15J Eagle, 'when will it end?' by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
6.
ImageF-15J Eagle, 62-8870, 305th Sqn by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
7.
ImageF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 47-6901, 302 Hikotai by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
8.
ImageRF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 57-6907, 501 Hikotai by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
9.
ImageRF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 57-6907, 501 Hikotai by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
10.
ImageKawasaki T-4 26-5688, 06-5630 by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
11.
ImageF-15J Eagle, 42-8831, 305th Sqn by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
12.
ImageU-125A, (BAe.125), 12-3018, Hyakuri Rescue Wing by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
13.
ImageF-15J Eagle, 62-8870, 305th Sqn by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
14.
ImageRF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 57-6912, 501 Hikotai by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
15.
ImageRF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 47-6901, 501 Hikotai by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
16.
ImageKawasaki T-4 by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
17.
ImageRF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 57-6909, 501 Hikotai by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
18.
ImageF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 67-8378, 302 Hikotai by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
19.
ImageTornado Eagle, 32-8060, 305th Sqn by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
20.
ImageF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 67-8378, 302 Hikotai by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
21.
ImageF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 07-8434, 302 Hikotai by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
22.
ImageF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 67-8378, 302 Hikotai by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
23.
ImageU-125A, (BAe.125), 72-3006, Hyakuri Rescue Wing by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
24.
ImageF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 302 Hikotai by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr
25.
ImageRF-4EJ Kai Phantom II, 47-6901, 501 Hikotai by www.chphotography.co.uk, on Flickr

Thanks to Jon for the company and banter; Ryo (buffalo79/flickr) for all his advice, meeting us at Hyakuri and buying us dinner; Junji Sato of the Japan Spotters Association for booking us in at the Peace Gate; and Steve Cooke for allowing me to borrow his 5DIII as a back-up camera! Finally, thanks to all the guys on here that responded to my questions about Japan making the planning easy going - it all made for a simply awesome trip!

If it's on your mind to go, my advice is stop thinking about it and board that plane :)

If you're interested keep an eye out for part II... much more to come...

Thanks for looking,

Cheers,
Chris
Last edited by CH79 on Thu 30 Apr 2015, 9:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Luke28
Posts: 1647
Joined: Fri 15 Jun 2012, 12:35 pm
Location: West Mids

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by Luke28 »

Stunning subjects and photography, love number 8 and 19 but they're all fantastic!!

User avatar
D90Man
Posts: 652
Joined: Thu 28 May 2009, 12:54 pm
Location: Holland-on-Sea, 3.87m SSE of CLN VOR

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by D90Man »

Great set of images - yes, Hyakuri is a wonderful place for photography, even in the worst of conditions as you demonstrated. No 8 does it for me :clap: :clap:

Leon
"Sharpness is in the eye of the holder"
More at http://www.planephotos.org.uk

User avatar
Pringles
Posts: 1742
Joined: Fri 25 Apr 2014, 11:15 am

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by Pringles »

Fantastic set, that opening shot is stunning! :clap:
If life gives you melons then you're probably dyslexic

User avatar
Arno 01
Posts: 1316
Joined: Sat 06 Sep 2008, 8:35 pm
Location: Brize Norton

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by Arno 01 »

Very nice Chris, glad it went well, I have my 1st trip scheduled for Q4 this year :yahoo:

Did you get the black toom in the background of no.7?

Looking forward to part 2 :clap:

User avatar
Sully
Posts: 84
Joined: Tue 13 Jan 2009, 8:24 pm
Location: Manchester

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by Sully »

Simply stunning and too many fantastic shots to choose from

Thanks for sharing

User avatar
Wissam24
UKAR Staff
Posts: 8270
Joined: Mon 29 Apr 2013, 9:54 am
Location: London

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by Wissam24 »

I cannot pick a favourite from among these. I'd be here for hours trying to decide.

Having seen these go up on Flickr, seeing them all together blows me away even more.
Twitter: @samwise24 | Flickr: samwise24 | Shamelessly copying LN Strike Eagle's avatar ideas since 2016

User avatar
Tim Holden
Posts: 310
Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 10:13 pm
Location: Stowmarket

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by Tim Holden »

Amazing. Love Phantoms. Some great low light photography too.

Tim
Pessimists are never dissapointed.

Airwolfhound
Posts: 2707
Joined: Fri 06 Jun 2014, 12:53 pm
Contact:

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by Airwolfhound »

Always a fan of your work, this post is no exception :clap: :clap:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/24874528@N04/

Agile, mobile and hostile ;-)

User avatar
Red Dragon
Posts: 1721
Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 6:56 pm

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by Red Dragon »

:clap: Already looking forward to the next selection :clap:

User avatar
RichPittman
Posts: 1688
Joined: Tue 27 Oct 2009, 5:47 am
Location: Yeovil
Contact:

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by RichPittman »

Nice one Chris, glad it went well. hyakuri with sun and a Southerly wind, fantastic...

Btw my flights are booked :)

Cheers Rich
Always remember "If you cannot turn tight...you cannot fight!"

SPLAT
Posts: 753
Joined: Tue 10 Aug 2010, 11:13 am

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by SPLAT »

You are the UKAR weather expert ! what with the cold shots at Lakenheath etc.
A great set , especially shot 8 of the recc F4
I do think the weather can make shots more intersting
:clap: :clap:

Roellodder
Posts: 32
Joined: Thu 23 Feb 2012, 4:08 pm

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by Roellodder »

Have great memories about Hyakuri, Iruma, Iwakuni, Atsugi, Tsuiki, Hofu and so on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Japan is a paradise for airplane spotters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Was there in 1995!!!!!!!!
Great pictures, compliments are in order!!!!!!!!!!
Greetings from the Netherlands.
Roel

User avatar
Stu
Posts: 3644
Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 4:05 pm
Contact:

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by Stu »

One heck of a selection there :clap: :clap: :clap:
Olympus Cameras

UBC780XLT
DJ-X10
DJ-X3

Representing www.simplyplanes.co.uk

User avatar
Agg
UKAR Staff
Posts: 1974
Joined: Tue 05 May 2009, 11:25 am
Location: Norway

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by Agg »

Fantastic set, one of the best I've seen from Japan :clap:

User avatar
CH79
Posts: 221
Joined: Tue 08 Nov 2011, 9:08 pm
Location: Norwich, Norfolk
Contact:

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by CH79 »

Many thanks for all the kind comments and views everyone, glad you like them :smile:

Arno 01 - Thanks, unfortunately the Black Phantom eluded us apart from being present on the ramp for the somewhat damp Monday and Tuesday. Having opted for Atsugi on the Friday we learned from my Japanese friend that it flew on this day, lol. Win some you lose some I guess! It has had a series of tech issues I understand but I hope you get better luck and get to see it fly! Be sure to send me a nice pic of it lol.

Rich Pittman - Great news about the flights, you will have a fantastic time no doubt! Its a really nice country, lovely people, great weather (sometimes lol), and the access to most airfields and amount of flying is second to none.

Keep an eye out for Part II.
Cheers, Chris

hazer1
Posts: 18
Joined: Sat 24 Aug 2013, 4:52 pm

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by hazer1 »

WOW! Wonderful set of photos...#8 is just brilliant!! Power of the Phantom! Thanks for sharing!

User avatar
st24
Posts: 8170
Joined: Mon 01 Sep 2008, 9:31 am
Location: Sexville

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by st24 »

Fabulous selection, the landing RF-4EJ catches my eye, just lovely.. :up:
You caaan't trust the system... Maaan!

User avatar
JoeRuscoe
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun 29 Mar 2015, 12:45 am
Location: Shawbury
Contact:

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by JoeRuscoe »

Love seeing the Phantoms still being used. Great set! :)

User avatar
sithrity
Posts: 460
Joined: Fri 02 Aug 2013, 10:15 pm

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by sithrity »

Lovely set of shots here, very crisp! Those Phantoms almost look fresh of the production line. :drool:
I don't know everything there is to know about our hobby.

Kids, aviation, missus then responsibilities, (in that order)

User avatar
larky
Posts: 58
Joined: Fri 09 Dec 2011, 2:41 pm
Location: Poland
Contact:

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by larky »

Fantastic set!!!
Merlin engine - sweetest sound in the world

http://www.spfl.pl

Hamster100
Posts: 28
Joined: Mon 11 Nov 2013, 7:41 pm

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by Hamster100 »

What and awesome set of photographs. They are all really good, but number 8 is something special. Looks like the trip of a lifetime with some fantastic memories.

Thanks for sharing

Doug

User avatar
Melchior
Posts: 37
Joined: Thu 20 Sep 2012, 3:41 pm
Contact:

Re: First Visit to Tokyo, Japan - April 2015 - Part I

Post by Melchior »

Number 8 is really stunning!
Melchior Timmers
Editor Scramble Magazine
--------------------
http://www.flickr.com/photos/62892971@N08/

Post Reply