Fortunately the hotel was right beside the airfield in Akeno,
and we therefore slept a bit longer. But unfortunately the
weather was only slightly better than three days ago, but
fortunately there was more flying activity! Until half past
nine we got some photos of AH-1 Cobras and the OH-1 and OH-6
observation helicopters. It did not appear that the weather
would get any better we decided to give Komaki a third and
final try.
Akeno
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The
driving to Komaki was around 2h and shortly after we
have arrived two RF-4Es took of. Unfortunately the light was
not perfect yet, but at least there was some flying activity.
A F-2A without squadron markings also came out from the Mitsubishi
plant and started for a test flight.
In the far distance we were able to spot two of the Mitsubishi
T-1s and it seemed that the ground crews were preparing both
of them for a flight, which was the case!! During one of the
our last days we still got the chance to see two of them.
Two C-130 Hercules on the ramp showed up as well shortly afterwards,
one in blue and the other in green/grey camouflage. Before
the 2 T-1 started, we furthermore got the chance to photograph
a F-15. While waiting for all of them to come back a F-4EJ
Phantom of the nearby Gifu Flight Test Centre performed a
low approach and we could not await to go there also once
again.
Komaki
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The
F-2 and both T-1 landed with sun finally shining, and they
did not even have left the runway when we were on our way
to Gifu. This time we did not need the navigation and knew
quite well where to drive and how much time it would take.
Though Gifu is not that far away from Komaki the weather
was not that perfect there with a lot of clouds, but there
were two F-4s in the pattern, a T-4 and an F-15 came in and
- to our big surprise - we also had the chance to photograph
a T-2.
This example must have been one of last ones of this type
that is still airworthy! We also encountered some kind of
strange vegetation there that attached its seeds to our trousers
and it was very hard not to have them everywhere in our car.
After the T-2 landing we also decided to stand on the hill
on the other side of the road. That place was a lot better
for photography, but unfortunately the sun was gone at around
4pm and we went once again to the museum. Not for photography,
but Florian and I still had too much money left and we knew
that we could some nice aircraft and souvenir stuff there.
I only bought two Japanese Phantom model kits and a coffee
mug, but the salesgirl smiled a lot more to Florian…
Gifu - Flight Test Centre
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Finally all three of us smiled as well after this day, which
was not bad at all. We got some helicopters, even not perfect
but better than nothing, C-130s and the two T-1s with sun,
and some nice stuff at Gifu. Everything without a single control.
Maybe we would have
a comparable successful day tomorrow at Hamamatsu? But before
taking more photos we had to find a place to sleep. For the
last time we decided to go to a youth hostel near Hamamatsu,
so we relaxed cruised back towards Tokyo, the same way that
we arrived the night before. Getting to the hostel was once
again a catastrophe, of course. The maps in the guide are
really #*$§%§& and we were happy that this was
the last hostel to find! That time, after a lot of asking,
we were escorted by two friendly Japanese and they showed
us the way with their car. Very polite - at the Youth Hostel
we thanked them hearty with a deep bow. The check-in was a
bit different, because this was the first hostel where they
asked for our passes; until now we have thought that they
had been useless.
For diner we went back into town and wanted to have a pizza
for a change, until we realized that they are a lot more expensive
than Japanese food here in Europe. So once again our choice
was the McDonald's. Interpreting the giggling three girls
behind the counter we were the first Europeans there.
Getting back to the hostel I accepted the bet to find back
to the hostel within 15 minutes. Unfortunately I relied a
bit to much on the navigation system of our car and suddenly
we were on the football court of a school?! But after a total
of 20 minutes we were back and Florian was quite impressed.
The bunk beds were also furnished with rice mats, but fortunately
we already had enough experience to avoid an aching back the
next day…
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
The
driving to Komaki was around 2h and shortly after we
have arrived two RF-4Es took of. Unfortunately the light was
not perfect yet, but at least there was some flying activity.
A F-2A without squadron markings also came out from the Mitsubishi
plant and started for a test flight.)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
The
F-2 and both T-1 landed with sun finally shining, and they
did not even have left the runway when we were on our way
to Gifu. This time we did not need the navigation and knew
quite well where to drive and how much time it would take.
T-2.
This example must have been one of last ones of this type
that is still airworthy! We also encountered some kind of
strange vegetation there that attached its seeds to our trousers
and it was very hard not to have them everywhere in our car.
After the T-2 landing we also decided to stand on the hill
on the other side of the road. That place was a lot better
for photography, but unfortunately the sun was gone at around
4pm and we went once again to the museum. Not for photography,
but Florian and I still had too much money left and we knew
that we could some nice aircraft and souvenir stuff there.
I only bought two Japanese Phantom model kits and a coffee
mug, but the salesgirl smiled a lot more to Florian…)
)
)
)
have
a comparable successful day tomorrow at Hamamatsu? But before
taking more photos we had to find a place to sleep. For the
last time we decided to go to a youth hostel near Hamamatsu,
so we relaxed cruised back towards Tokyo, the same way that
we arrived the night before. Getting to the hostel was once
again a catastrophe, of course. The maps in the guide are
really #*$§%§& and we were happy that this was
the last hostel to find! That time, after a lot of asking,
we were escorted by two friendly Japanese and they showed
us the way with their car. Very polite - at the Youth Hostel
we thanked them hearty with a deep bow. The check-in was a
bit different, because this was the first hostel where they
asked for our passes; until now we have thought that they
had been useless.