LOG 25-09-2019
On my 24 hour NRT layover I decided to rent a car and drive up north after landing to witness the last year(s) of the Phantom.
Rental was done with ORIX rent-a-car in Terminal 2, and after acknowledging that I am familiar with all road signs and I will not park in forbidden areas, and renting a toll pass as well, I walked to the rental car next to the terminal.
My gps nav app Navmii was setup for a direct route to the towers and I was on my way for a 1130 arrival.
The week before I had mailed hyakurip@gmail.com with my request for entrance to the towers and this was quickly replied with a Yes!
When approaching the field a saw a US-2 in the circuit so I drove slightly faster to the towers. Good thing the US-2 was still on the taxitrack in front of the towers awaiting permission to taxi to the ramp! Good! Thereafter two RF-4s landed and taxied very nice in front of the towers to their stands. The trumpet was heard so it was time for lunch.
After lunch, the pilots arrived for three RF-4s and they taxied nicely to the holding of runway 03R via the taxiway in front of the towers. Good!
Then, as the sun was turning into this spot, I decided to drive to the crash gate at spot 1.
When arriving here, it was very busy. I found the last spot to park my car and walked to the fence with my two step. This proved to be the minimum for the fence; I was able to just take pictures over the barbed wire.
Three Hueys were exercising on the field, the RF-4s arrived back to land and then 4 F-4EJs departed followed by the US-2. The UH-60J was busy with some hover work and some circuits. At 1545 the F-4 s arrived and thereafter I left via the two preserved Phantoms at the Civil terminal.
LOG:
501 Hikotai
RF-4E Kai 47-6901, 47-6905, 57-6907. 57-6909
RF-4EJ Kai 07-6433, 77-6397
seen was also tail of RF-4E 47-6902 next to hangar.
T-4 06-5631, this one has some engine problems for months apparently and did not fly.
301 Hikotai
F-4EJ Kai 07-8434 (in hangar), 07-8436, 17-8437, 17-8439, 77-8395, 97-8416, 97-8422
Hyakuri Kyunontai
UH-60J 18-4574
U-125 12-1015
Visitors:
US-2 9906 71 Kokutai
UH-1J 41848/JG-1848/848, 41892/JG-1892/892 nn
preserved at Civil Terminal:
RF-4EJ 87-6412 ex 501 Hikotai
F-4EJ Kai 37-8319 ex 302 Hikotai