A very quick Japan visit. Special F-4. Large post!

Photos of operational aircraft from bases, airports and "spotter" outings
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Fumbles
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A very quick Japan visit. Special F-4. Large post!

Post by Fumbles »

Hello everyone.. It sure has been a long time since posting. As usual, things have been very busy on my end since RIAT. Enough with the boring stuff. I'll start a new post with a trip that I just got back home from. Japan! Yes land of the rising sun and of course the mighty F-4 Phantoms. Sadly not for much longer. It was a quick trip with two great friends, two and a half days at Hyakuri, one at Iruma and one at Atsugi. From there I went on my own to Taiwan for two days to catch the F-5s at Taitung. Those shots to come in a couple of days. So on with the shots.

As usual Comments and Criticism always welcome.

1. Start things off with the special painted F-4 for retirement at Hyakuri.

ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

Onto Iruma

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

The weather finally crapped out for Friday at Atsugi. But I managed a few shots to keep.

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr

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ImageJapan, Hyakuri, Iruma and Atsugi by Rod McDonough, on Flickr


Thanks for looking.

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BDL
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Re: A very quick Japan visit. Special F-4. Large post!

Post by BDL »

Quality, thanks for posting. One day I'll get there!

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jalfrezi
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Re: A very quick Japan visit. Special F-4. Large post!

Post by jalfrezi »

Thanks for posting! I'm over there in a month and your pics have certainly whetted my appetite. :smile:

andy759
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Re: A very quick Japan visit. Special F-4. Large post!

Post by andy759 »

superb set both quality & subjects :up:
sorry to say I think my only chance of seeing them (practically the F4/s ) would be if they brought a couple over for riat & I know that aint going to happen

andy

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Re: A very quick Japan visit. Special F-4. Large post!

Post by Airwolfhound »

Outstanding, thanks for posting :clap: :clap:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/24874528@N04/

Agile, mobile and hostile ;-)

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Skyflash
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Re: A very quick Japan visit. Special F-4. Large post!

Post by Skyflash »

Absolutely brilliant... those 'tooms! :drool:
Posting comments on an aviation-related chatroom, are ya? Looks like it an' all...

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HeyfordDave111
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Re: A very quick Japan visit. Special F-4. Large post!

Post by HeyfordDave111 »

You managed to get the QRA, excellent, and the 'spare' getting towed down to the barn.

I'm jealous of the special F-4 too. :clap:
It was pulled out onto the flightline 3 of the 4 days i was there but never flew. :wall:

Great Set.
cheers
Dave
Got to love Russianhardware

Georgeconna
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Re: A very quick Japan visit. Special F-4. Large post!

Post by Georgeconna »

Nice shots,When are the F-4 gonna be finished can you tell not that I will get there anytime soon given that I have to fork out 7k on Kids Braces next year. Oh the single life eh.
Cheers

George

Zero shows for 2018 Giving in a Rest.

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Wes_Howes
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Re: A very quick Japan visit. Special F-4. Large post!

Post by Wes_Howes »

Great stuff Rod, I'm heading out there in March and you've basically done the same trip we've planned. I just hope we get as lucky as you :smile:

Amp
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Re: A very quick Japan visit. Special F-4. Large post!

Post by Amp »

In addition to the above comments on the great F-4 shots, nice to see that YS-11 flying and the special nose on the C-1 (what's it for?).

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B2 Spirit
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Re: A very quick Japan visit. Special F-4. Large post!

Post by B2 Spirit »

Simply superb Rod, it looks like you got a lot of Phantom action.... Hearing this week only a few movements each day from other members here and 4Aviation.
2 weeks today and I will be there..... doing same bases plus Komaki & Gifu. So, any location tips for Iruma & Atsugi will be helpful, think both spots were southern ends?
cheers
Dave

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BigClick67
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Re: A very quick Japan visit. Special F-4. Large post!

Post by BigClick67 »

Lovely stuff! :clap: Thanks for sharing :up:

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POD
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Re: A very quick Japan visit. Special F-4. Large post!

Post by POD »

Nice set Rod, looks like you had a good time :up:

Kev
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redbearing
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Re: A very quick Japan visit. Special F-4. Large post!

Post by redbearing »

Blimey

how many days to get that lot, amazing!!! :clap: :clap: :clap:

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Fumbles
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Re: A very quick Japan visit. Special F-4. Large post!

Post by Fumbles »

Many thanks for the comments everyone. It sure was one heck of a short busy trip. I'll be counting down the days till a return in 2019.

To answer a few questions.

by Georgeconna on Tue 30 Oct 2018, 1:53 am
Nice shots,When are the F-4 gonna be finished


My understanding is that one Squadron will retire March 2019 and then the remaining squadron with the RF-4s and F-4EJs are due to finish March 2021 so a little while yet for chances.

by Amp on Tue 30 Oct 2018, 3:18 am
nice to see that YS-11 flying and the special nose on the C-1 (what's it for?).


That I really could not answer sorry.

by B2 Spirit on Tue 30 Oct 2018, 4:46 am
any location tips for Iruma & Atsugi will be helpful, think both spots were southern ends?
cheers


Iruma really has two spots that are easy to spot on Google Maps. The first being a little grassy triangle on the SW area of the base. You'll see lots of people there as the locals love it. If there is no parking on the road left. About 50m is the Hospital parking, it is pay parking and we did see people parking there. So I assume as long as you pay, they don't have a problem. The second spot we saw was just South of where we were. Down near the threshold but from my understanding is... you can only get head on taxi shots there. Atsugi can be a quiet base.. 80% of our traffic was circuit bashing P-1s. But we stayed at a park on the South end of the base all day. You really can't miss it.

by redbearing on Sun 04 Nov 2018, 1:07 am
how many days to get that lot


Haha... an unbelievable 4 and a half! 2.5 Hyakuri, 1 Iruma and 1 Atsugi

Again many thanks everyone. Glad you enjoyed them, if you are about to go to Japan I hope you have as much a great time as I did and if you have not planned to visit... Go on do it in the Future if you can. The place is amazing, people wise,food wise everything.

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Tmyers123
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Re: A very quick Japan visit. Special F-4. Large post!

Post by Tmyers123 »

Amp wrote:In addition to the above comments on the great F-4 shots, nice to see that YS-11 flying and the special nose on the C-1 (what's it for?).


That’s because it’s an EC-1, the electronic warfare variant.

Amp
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Re: A very quick Japan visit. Special F-4. Large post!

Post by Amp »

EC-1 noted. These shots are great to scroll through several times.

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Re: A very quick Japan visit. Special F-4. Large post!

Post by tuska2 »

What a great set!

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Re: A very quick Japan visit. Special F-4. Large post!

Post by MigF4 »

Great Set :rock:
Cheers,
Mick

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Blackbird
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Re: A very quick Japan visit. Special F-4. Large post!

Post by Blackbird »

A great post Rod. I managed Atsugi and Iruma (all in one day) a few years back!

Andy :smile:

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