Since we didn't go to Shimofusa yesterday we had to do this today. This is the only base with YS-11T-A's, so we didn't really have a choice.Luckily we had Tateyama on the itinerary for today, which was more like an "extra", so we could skip that one.
So we planned to start at Shimofusa, but we didn't expect the traffic to be so horrible as it turned out to be. The first part of our trip went ok, but when we got nearer to Shimofusa the traffic more or less stopped. The last few kilometers cost us almost two hours, during which we heard (and sometimes saw) aircraft fly. Frustrating! But in the end we managed to arrive,
JMSDF Shimofusa
YS-11T-A, 205 Kyoiku Kok.: 6901, 6902, 6904, 6906
P-3C, 203 Kyoiku Kok.: 5030, 5047, 5057, 5060, 5061, 5067 (no mks)
6718 Beech 65 pr, 205 KK mks, c/n LC-229
8607 KV.107IIA-3A pr, 111 Kok mks
6175 SNJ-5 pr, also mkd 751, what's the maning of this?
6428 SNB-4 pr, no mks, also carries former BuNo 85116
Although the weather was not too good again we were very happy that YS-11 6902 was doing a lot of T&G's. That's another type in the pocket! Here we got security checking us out again, this time with a preprinted form with questions in Japanese and English, but also in Dutch! One of the questions was (and I quote): "How do you stay in contact with other maniacs?" I have been called anorac and similar before, but maniac?
When we were satisfied with the pictures of the YS-11 we decided it was time to move on. Our second "target" today were the EC.225's of the army, and maybe an active LR-1.
JGSDF Kisarazu
52908 CH-47J HGP III
52912 CH-47J HGP IV
52916 CH-47J nn
52919 CH-47J nn
52927 CH-47J HGP IV
52929 CH-47J HGP III
52932 CH-47J HGP III
52961 CH-47JA HGP III
01021 EC.225LP STH
22015 LR-1 LR
When we were approaching the airfield we already saw an EC.225 take off, and we were afraid it was leaving. But it turned out that it was doing circuits, so we headed for the landing. The chopper stayed very high, and the weather was still rather bad, so pictures are not too good, but still. We graphed a VIP EC.225, which was more than expected! A few Chinooks were also flying, and then suddenly an LR-1 arrived as well. How lucky can you be? This is the only base where the security didn't like us being present and wanted us to stop taking pictures and leave. We tried to talk with the guards for some time, but they were behind a ditch and didn;t want to come outside the base, so we waited for a while but then decided to give them what they wanted and left. The Chinook platform is easy here, but other choppers are a disaster. The field is very big, and it's almost impossible to read other helicopters off if they're not flying. We saw an OH-1 and an AH-1 leave, and also some choppers outside, but no serials. Well, we still were very satisfied obviously!
Nearby is an army depot, where a few aircraft should be preserved, so we checked that out as well.
JGSDF depot, Kisarazu (35 24 37.25 N, 139 55 42.80 E)
36-8532 F-104J pr, 203 Hik mks
35-5867 T-1B pr, 1 TS mks (?)
Those are preserved near the main gate and easily visible. We asked at the gate if we could photograph them, and that was no problem at all. Nice! After this we remembered they should also have a T-33 at the back of the premises and drove around. We failed to see it though; it's definately not at the spot where you can see it on Google Earth anymore. No idea about fate unfortunately.
We had some driving to do to our hotel for tonight, so we decided to call it a day here. We crossed the bay via the combined bridge and tunnel, and then got into trouble finding our way since our satnav messed up. This never understood we had to drive on the left hand side of the road (like all Japanese do....) so she wanted us to take turns and exits that simply were impossible. And when it comes to roadsigns our knowledge of the Japanese characters is rather poor.... Well, finally we managed to get back on the main road towards Shizuoka, and we planned one more stop underway for the preserved Huey at Gotemba. This is only some 6 kms from the nearest highway exit, but when we had taken the exit we were told by our satnav we kept on driving and driving. When we finally realised where we were we found that she had sent us off the highway some 40 kms earlier than we should have. What a nice help, such a satnav. By then we were too tired to drive another 30 kms via small and busy roads, so we went back to the highway and continued straight to our hotel.
Another well spent day!
As always additions etcetera...
That's all folks!
Frank Mink & Patrick Dirksen
Tristar Aviation
