Another fighter base today, this time our aim was the new F-2's. Expectations were high, but the F-16-lookalikes turned out to be a pain in the you know what!
JASDF Tsuiki
F-2A, 6 Hik:
13-8512, 13-8514*, 13-8515, 13-8517*, 13-8519, 33-8523, 43-8525, 43-8530*, 53-8532
F-15J, 304 Hik:
22-8814, 42-8829, 42-8835, 42-8841, 52-8850, 62-8865, 62-8872, 82-8899*, 92-8909, 22-8932*, 42-8945, 42-8946*
68-1014 C-1 403 Hik
03-8105 F-2B no mks, should be Misawa based
12-8052 F-15DJ 304 Hik
96-5619 T-4 304 Hik
96-5622 T-4 6 Hik
16-5669 T-4 304 Hik
16-5671 T-4 304 Hik
26-5681 T-4 8 Hik
36-5707 T-4 6 Hik
66-5748 T-4 Sotai Shireibu Hik
30-8268 F-1 std, 6 Hik mks
70-8277 F-1 pr, 6 Hik mks
84-8115 F-86D pr, unknown mks
92-7938 F-86F pr, old 6 Hik mks?
36-8546 F-104J pr, 207 Hik mks
(61-5217) T-33A std, no mks
71-5256 T-33A std, code very vague, no mks
51-5627 T-33A pr, 304 Hik mks
There were many F-2's on the flightline, but due to heatwaves, backlight and unreadable serials a large amount escaped identification. The Eagles flew a lot, but the F-2's were a lot less active. Not a single twinseater, except for the one from Misawa (that we missed when it took off, and apparently it returned to Misawa), and only three single seaters flew in the morning. Well, since the F-2 is the newest fighter those should be around for many years to come, so hopefully there will be another chance one day. A * behind a serial means the aircraft had special marking, apparently applied for the upcoming Tactical Fighter Meet. It was very busy with local spotters here, and for the first time a few of them started a conversation with us. (That's how we learned about the special marks and the destination of the F-2B by the way.) It was fun to be able to ask a few of the burning questions we had about Japan in general by now, for example the meaning of the green and yellow or orange and yellow stickers on cars (they designate a young driver or an old driver, red.)
Since we had skipped Ozuki last Friday this was put on the schedule for today. That meant we didn't have time for Ashiya and Fukuoka, but we already had red and white T-4's and therefor the T-5's were more important for us.
JMSDF Ozuki
T-5, 201 Kyoiku Kok:
6304, 6307, 6308, 6309, 6310, 6311, 6312, 6314, 6316, 6317, 6323, 6324, 6325, 6326, 6327, 6329, 6330, 6332, 6335, 6340
6302 T-5 dump, 201 Kyoiku Kok mks
630x T-5 dump, 201 Kyoiku Kok mks, missing rudder
6164 SNJ-5 pr, 201 Kyoiku Kok mks
This turned out to be a good afternoon, with a lot of activity and even some sunshine when we just arrived. All in all we got a nice amount of T-5's. Frustrating was the dumped one with the mising rudder; this meant that the last digit of the serial was gone as well. We tried everything we could to get a glimpse from the other side, I even climbed into two telephone poles, but no luck. Obviously the candidates are 6301 (reported as instructional airframe in 2006), 6303, 6305 and 6306. If some can help narrow it down I would be very grateful! Preserved at the gate should also be a KM-2 and a T-34, but those are not visible form outside.
And that was it for today. We had Miho on our itinerary for the next day, and that meant we had a long drive ahead of us now, so no time for wrecks and relics unfortunately.
As always additions, etcetera.....
That's all folks!
Frank Mink & Patrick Dirksen
Tristar Aviation