JASDF Iruma Airshow; Kawasaki C-1 Transport Aircraft Demonstration

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The only unit in Japan that still flies with the nowadays outdated Kawasaki C-1 is the 402 Hikotai which is part of the 2nd Tactical Airlift Group. The 2nd Tactical Airlift Group (2TAG) is based on Iruma Air Base. This unit falls under the command of the Japanese Air Support Group. The headquarters of this group is based in Fuchu in Tokyo. All Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) transport units are under the command of this main group. The commander of the Air Support Group reports directly to the Japanese minister of defense. The command has been founded since June 6, 1955, and is therefore almost as old as the JASDF in its modern post-war form. The 2TAG has existed in its current form since March 31, 1978. The transport group was founded at Iruma Air Base and has never moved from this airbase since. There is only one transport squadron under the command of the 2TAG, namely the 402 Hikotai. The transport unit is a bit older than the group to which the unit belongs. The 402 Hikotai was already established on October 17, 1958. The 402 Hikotai was then equipped with the C-46D for the heavy transport tasks at Kisarazu Air Base. The current 402 Hikotai was still referred to as the Kisarazu Training Corps at that time. From December 1, 1965, the squadron was equipped with the YS-11P built in Japan for the transport task. After a few years, the unit would move to its current Iruma Air Base airport from June 1, 1968. After this move, the unit would remain in Iruma until today. The unit was then referred to as the Iruma Air Corps and would only continue from October 1, 1968 under the current name 402 Hikotai. In addition to the YS-11P, the 402 Hikotai would also receive another type. From the beginning of 1973, the 402 Hikotai received its first Kawasaki C-1 transport aircraft to enhance the capabilities of the unit.

The Kawasaki C-1 is a twin-engine military transport aircraft suitable for the short distance. The development of this transport aircraft began when the JASDF commenced its obsolete Curtiss C-46 Command in 1966. Production of the aircraft began in 1971. Although relatively suitable for its time, the C-46 did not perform well compared to newer transport aircraft such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. For that reason, the JASDF chose to replace this aircraft with a transport aircraft designed and manufactured in their own country. Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (NAMC) was selected for this project. This consortium of various large companies had started four years earlier with the commercial production of the YS-11 as a passenger aircraft. The NAMC decided that Kawasaki Heavy Industries would be the main contractor and the aircraft therefore bears the name of that company. The aircraft has been in use since November 1970 as a military transport aircraft for the JASDF. There have been a total of three units that have flown with this type at the JASDF. These units are; the 401 Hikotai from 1973 to 1989, the 402 Hikotai flying from 1973 until today with the C-1 and the 403 Hikotai flying from 1979 until nowadays with the C-1. A total of only 31 aircraft of this type were built, all of which were supplied to the JASDF. The design of the Kawasaki C-1 was based on the American Lockheed C-141 Starlifter. The aircraft was only a lot smaller and only had two engines. The aircraft also has the characteristic T-tail and a large cargo door in the rear of the fuselage. This configuration allows the aircraft to operate well from short and dirty runways. At the moment, the 402 Hikotai on Iruma is the only unit that flies the Kawasaki C-1. The 403 Hikotai on Miho Air Base has already started the conversion to the Kawasaki C-2. The 402 Hikotai on Iruma specializes within the Japanese transport units in performing with the airborne troops of the 1st Airborne Brigade. The aircraft are sprayed for tactical reasons in a green with brown camouflage pattern. The planes usually fly low when they drop the paratroopers in their landing zone. The Kawasaki C-1 is very noisy for such a small aircraft, which is not appreciated everywhere.