Waking
up at 6:30am that day was a real pleasure, the sun was already
shining into our room. Should we be even more lucky today
than yesterday? However our first action that day when getting
into the car was to symbolically destroy the hated Youth Hostel
guide. We would not need it anymore, anytime. Fortunately! Along
the coastline we drove to Hamamatsu and enjoyed another scenic
part of Japan. The weather was fine and we already saw some
T-4s circling around the airfield. A spot was found quickly
that offered a good view on two parked E-767, a type that
we eagerly wanted to photograph there, as well as the rare
V-107 helicopter. Furthermore there was another T-1 behind
the AWACS aircraft, but it turned out that they were only
doing engine tests on that one. The
control patrol was quite fast there, but once again we had
no problems. After checking our passports they stayed I their
car for some time, but left then. We continued taking numerous
photos of T-4s because the light was really nice and we could
experiment a bit without the risk of loosing a shot. After
some time we heard thy typical helicopter
rotor noise and were curious if this was the V-107, a license-build
CH-46, or something else? Furthermore there was now also activity
onone of the E-767! Shortly afterwards the V-107 came outfrom
behind the hangars and started hovering along the taxiway.
It was still quite far away, but just in range of our 500mm
lenses. Patrick was just about to change a roll of film, when
the helicopter finally took off right over us. Fortunately
he still managed to get some shots, but was not that happy
about it. The same goes for me, because I missed a nice photo
opportunity for a C-1 take-off. I was too slow this time,
and just enjoyed the view. As there no more activity on the
767 we decided to go to the museum.
Hamamatsu
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The
museum at Hamamatsu is the official JASDF Museum and has a
lot of interesting exhibits. The exposition is split up in
two hangars, one of them contains view boards, cut-away aircraft,
a library and so on, and the other one, which was the more
interesting for us, is full of aircraft. Form a Zero to the
F-2 there is every aircraft or helicopter included that the
JASDF flew in its history. We were amazed to even already
a see a V-107 in the museum. The same type that we just photographed
outside. The same goes for the T-1 and clearly showed us that
this very special Air Force is going to loose a lot of interesting
aircraft in the near future. Unfortunately we did not have
a lot of time and rushed through the hall and furthermore
did not forget the aircraft parked outside: C-46, Blue Impulse
F-86 and an F-104J. While photographing we always had a look
outside through the glass facade in order not to miss an interesting
aircraft.
JASDF Museum
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We then hurried back to the spot were we have been in the
morning, and within 10 minutes the B-767 started to taxi.
Right in front of us and we were able to get perfect photos
of this rare type. That was really surprising, because in
all of the reports that we read beforehand everyone wrote
that this is one of the hardest aircraft to get. Maybe, but
not for us ;)
Afterwards another V-107 started to hover, but did not take-off.
As we were rally happy with that airfield as well, we hit
the road to have at least a look at Atsuigi.
Hamamatsu
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Driving
this highway for the third time we had once again no look
to descry Mt. Fuji because of clouds preventing a clear, so
at least that is a reason for us to go back one time.
Getting to Atsugi was difficult, because a lot of traffic
lights slowed the traffic really down once we got off the
highway. It was cloudy as well there, but there was some activity.
Not a lot, as the carrier was off-shore for training mission,
but we saw some US Navy F-18F Super Hornets, C-2A Greyhounds
and Japanese YS-11 and P-3s. It was already dark and gray,
and I was shooting at ISO800, so I did not really make a lot
of sense. But being there I wanted at least to get some photos.
NAF Atsugi
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When it got really senseless we started the last long leg
of our trip: Passing
Tokyo and going to Hyakuri. That should be all right, because
we already knew the surroundings of Hyakuri well - even knew
that we would not find a hotel nearby and therefore already
mentally prepared to sleep in the car - and getting to Tokyo
on Friday was no problem as well.
But today everything should be different. Monday evening,
2 accidents and traffic jams all along our way through this
megapolis. The 50km through the city took us 3 hours!!! At
least we had an automatic car and nerves of steel. The traffic
jam also gave
me the time to have a look and our navigation system, and
I finally found out how to activate the guidanceto waypoints.
On our last day… The drive to Hyakuri was relaxed and
we had dinner at a Japanese Denny's. Unfortunately they did
not have burgers as anywhere else, but also noodle soup and
everything that we rather did not want to have there. After
another short stop at a 7/11 to get some beer and Sake we
found the parking place near the airbase (and right besides
a golf range) really fast and prepared our bivouac in the
car. The night was silent, only Florian heard some birds padding
on the roof. It was cold and narrow in the car once again,
but at least there was a coffee distributor within some meters
for the next morning…
Waking
up at 6:30am that day was a real pleasure, the sun was already
shining into our room. Should we be even more lucky today
than yesterday? However our first action that day when getting
into the car was to symbolically destroy the hated Youth Hostel
guide. We would not need it anymore, anytime. Fortunately!
Along
the coastline we drove to Hamamatsu and enjoyed another scenic
part of Japan. The weather was fine and we already saw some
T-4s circling around the airfield. A spot was found quickly
that offered a good view on two parked E-767, a type that
we eagerly wanted to photograph there, as well as the rare
V-107 helicopter. Furthermore there was another T-1 behind
the AWACS aircraft, but it turned out that they were only
doing engine tests on that one. 
The
control patrol was quite fast there, but once again we had
no problems. After checking our passports they stayed I their
car for some time, but left then. We continued taking numerous
photos of T-4s because the light was really nice and we could
experiment a bit without the risk of loosing a shot. After
some time we heard thy typical 
helicopter
rotor noise and were curious if this was the V-107, a license-build
CH-46, or something else? Furthermore there was now also activity
onone of the E-767! Shortly afterwards the V-107 came outfrom
behind the hangars and started hovering along the taxiway.
It was still quite far away, but just in range of our 500mm
lenses. Patrick was just about to change a roll of film, when
the helicopter finally took off right over us. Fortunately
he still managed to get some shots, but was not that happy
about it. The same goes for me, because I missed a nice photo
opportunity for a C-1 take-off. I was too slow this time,
and just enjoyed the view. As there no more activity on the
767 we decided to go to the museum.)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
The
museum at Hamamatsu is the official JASDF Museum and has a
lot of interesting exhibits. The exposition is split up in
two hangars, one of them contains view boards, cut-away aircraft,
a library and so on, and the other one, which was the more
interesting for us, is full of aircraft. Form a Zero to the
F-2 there is every aircraft or helicopter included that the
JASDF flew in its history. We were amazed to even already
a see a V-107 in the museum. The same type that we just photographed
outside. The same goes for the T-1 and clearly showed us that
this very special Air Force is going to loose a lot of interesting
aircraft in the near future. Unfortunately we did not have
a lot of time and rushed through the hall and furthermore
did not forget the aircraft parked outside: C-46, Blue Impulse
F-86 and an F-104J. While photographing we always had a look
outside through the glass facade in order not to miss an interesting
aircraft.)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Driving
this highway for the third time we had once again no look
to descry Mt. Fuji because of clouds preventing a clear, so
at least that is a reason for us to go back one time.)
)
)
)
)
Passing
Tokyo and going to Hyakuri. That should be all right, because
we already knew the surroundings of Hyakuri well - even knew
that we would not find a hotel nearby and therefore already
mentally prepared to sleep in the car - and getting to Tokyo
on Friday was no problem as well.
gave
me the time to have a look and our navigation system, and
I finally found out how to activate the guidanceto waypoints.
On our last day… The drive to Hyakuri was relaxed and
we had dinner at a Japanese Denny's. Unfortunately they did
not have burgers as anywhere else, but also noodle soup and
everything that we rather did not want to have there. After
another short stop at a 7/11 to get some beer and Sake we
found the parking place near the airbase (and right besides
a golf range) really fast and prepared our bivouac in the
car. The night was silent, only Florian heard some birds padding
on the roof. It was cold and narrow in the car once again,
but at least there was a coffee distributor within some meters
for the next morning…