Japan Airshows 2019

[MaxIT]

Thank you Jonathan, very usefull!

(PS: sorry, I have two users on Scramble, but I'm the same person)

> About Hyakuri air show it seems to me that for Saturday parking is not permitted in public areas around the base.

Correct. ......

Jonathan.

[Stilwell]

> This will be my first time to a Japanese Air Show. What time should I get to the base on the morning of the show if I want to get up close to the aircraft for runway departures without having people in front of me?

That is a tricky one, especially as detailed arrangements can vary from year to year.
What follows is based on the arrangements for the show last year.
It will probably help to explain the Hyakuri lay-out first.

The main crowd area is on the ramp, as you would expect, but the crowd line is usually set back because they park most of the flying aircraft and some of the visitors there (the rest tend to be along the southern side of the ramp, and maybe a few in the crowd area itself). This area opens at a particular time. Maybe 07:30, maybe 08:00; I can’t really remember exactly (when the airshow poster goes live on the website, it will be the longest bar on the schedule). To get on this area of the ramp, you have to go through a security check point near where the U-125A is parked on Google Earth at the moment, so if you want to get on there early, you will have to join the long queue for bag check. (There may be another check point further down the ramp, but if the southern gate is closed, I don’t see why they would bother.)

The rest of the base opens earlier (I don’t know when). This includes the concession stands to the east of the hangars, and the golf course. The golf course is where the queue for bag check usually goes. Specifically along the path overlooking the runway, between the ditch and the row of small trees. This path is probably your best bet for runway visibility. If they use 21 Left they will still be on the ground at this point; with 03 Right they will by flying, but if they are going to break, they tend to break between the fire station and the gate (for 21 Left they break between the Peace Towers and the QRA sheds). Whichever runway is in use, this path will give you excellent views of taxi way traffic to / from the runway.
But it fills up quickly. Especially if they do allow some on-site parking, and let people in the car park to the north of the runway walk along the bus route before the shuttle buses start.

The website already says they will not be providing parking adjacent to the base, and will not be opening the back gate. I assume this is the southern gate near the Peace Towers, so the off-site parking shuttle buses will come in the main northern gate (where the preserved aircraft are), the same as the buses from Ishioka station, then turn left into a right hand circuit of the playing field area, then drop off their passengers next to the fuel bowser ramp, near the security check point.
And pick people up from there after the show – if you come in by shuttle bus, make sure you queue for and catch the correct bus at the end.

If you are coming by car, and assuming they do have some on-base parking, and not allocate it beforehand, that will be your best bet. But you will need to be early. How early? I honestly don’t know, but I expect it involves heading back to the base on Saturday evening after dinner and a comfort break, then looking for the queue – possibly at the north eastern corner, but possibly on the western side.

If you are on public transport, get to Ishioka station early. Two southbound trains go through before the first northbound service. But expect people staying locally to have started queuing before the first southbound service arrives, so they can get on the first buses.

But otherwise – prepare to be disappointed. Or at least to have a contingency to stand further back, shoot the departure breaks from the golf course if they use 03R (you get a better angle from further back) and the gun runs from in front of the fire station (good for head-on shots) or on the fuel bowser ramp (good for top side shots as they turn off the attack heading).

Jonathan.

[tbower40]

Jonathan,

Thanks for all the information. That helps a lot.

Trevor

[tonno1970]

> I can only choose one day and I am debating if going on friday, saturday or sunday.

Go on Sunday. Unless the weather forecast is poor. Although obviously that doesn’t help for planning this far in advance.

> Friday because of trials and arrival day.

Arrivals – yes. Rehearsals – less so.

The squadrons which live at the base tend to rehearse during the week. Indeed, they are probably rehearsing on a regular basis already.

Last year on the Friday the flying was limited to one launch by 301 Hikotai, one launch by 501 Hikotai, the 302 Hikotai specials taxiing down the runway, and a rehearsal by the visiting F-15J from Komatsu.

So not great for rehearsals. Plus if you want to catch the arriving aircraft in the air you want to be off the end of the runway, which is less than ideal for catching any display flying.

> Saturday i do not know if worth it.

Everything displays on the Families / Dress Rehearsal day on Saturday. But non-invitees can’t get into the base, the area around it has strong parking and car access restrictions, and as a result, the buses to Ibaraki Airport tend to be very busy.

> Sunday for the airshow

While Sunday will be incredibly busy and crowded, access to the base allows you to view the flying from the eastern side of the runway, which is preferable for the morning, especially if it is sunny. Also Sunday allows you to photograph the static aircraft, and the preserved aircraft in the base museum.

> About Hyakuri air show it seems to me that for Saturday parking is not permitted in public areas around the base.

Correct. Well, that is the intent. And while it isn’t always 100% effective, it is applied with typical Japanese enthusiasm and efficiency.

> Will be there shuttle buses for those who have the ticket for the family day, but these are released for residents in a list of 11 towns around the base.

Invitee parking tends to be on-base on the western and northern sides of the runways, with shuttle buses to the show area.

> I'm afraid no hope for stay outside the base on Saturday.

- Take the first train to Ishioka railway station:
http://www.hyperdia.com/en/
Go straight to the bus stop on the northern side of the tracks. Catch the first bus to Ibaraki Airport.
http://www.ibaraki-airport.net/en/acces ... hioka.html
Walk from there.
Expect a long wait in the queue for a bus back again. Although I got the impression that the bus company was running extra buses that day last year.

- Book a seat on the bus that runs from outside Tokyo station to Ibaraki Airport, and one back again:
http://www.ibaraki-airport.net/en/access/bus/tokyo.html
Assuming they are not already full. Also, to catch the take-offs for the opening flypast, you may want to be at the base a little earlier.

- Go to Ishioka Station and get a taxi (probably from the south side of the tracks). More money, and there is no guarantee there will be taxis, but it should get you as far as the locations where the roads are closed. You then just have to get back again afterwards.

I wouldn’t rely on getting a taxi at Ibaraki Airport terminal, unless you have booked one in advance.

Also I wouldn’t expect to be able to park at Ibaraki Airport on the Saturday. Unless you have a flight ticket or good evidence you are picking someone up. While they have a large (usually free) car park, I expect them to reserve it for passengers, and I have seen attendants checking cars on the way into the car park. But I don’t know for sure.

- Use one of the other bus services to Ibaraki Airport:
http://www.ibaraki-airport.net/en/access/bus.html

Jonathan.

many thanks Jonathan, much appreciated

[McG]

Hyakuri published the air festival brochure today.
This is what I have gathered via Google Translate.

Gates Open 06:30. Show officially runs 09:00 to 15:00.

Flying Display

08:00-08:30 F-4EJ x 2 Weather Recon Flight
08:30-09:15 F-4EJ x 3, RF-4EJ x 3, UH-60 x1 Flypast
09:15-09:30 RF-4EJ x 2 Airfield Beat Up
09:45-10:00 UH-60 & U-125 SAR Demo
10:30-11:00 F-15EJ Solo Demo
11:00-11:15 Blue Impulse Walk to Aircraft / Crew In
11:15-12:00 Blue Impulse Demo
13:30-14:00 QRA Launch F-4EJ x 3 followed by airfield ground attack demo
14:15-14:30 RF-4EJ x 2 Airfield Beat Up

Static Display

U-4
P-1
C-2 (Open to Public)
F-2
T-7
UH-60
U-125
F-4EJ 301Sq Special Scheme
F-4EJ 302Sq Special Scheme?
RF-4EJ 501Sq Special Scheme

The Flying Display Aircraft will also be presented for Static display

T-4 Blue Impulse
F-15EJ x 2
RF-4EJ x 3
F-4EJ x 4
UH-60
U-125

[Buysse 2]

F-4EJ 302Sq Special Scheme?

Hi,

The two 302Sqn specials from last year (both the black one and the white one) have been kept in Hyakuri and will be on static dispaly.
I saw them as the static display was being tested. They still look marvelous, like they're ready to fly.
The static will be nice with these two, the special from 301 Sqn and a blue RF-4 with sharkmouth. That blue RF-4 was said to have been withdrawn from flying also.

Someone told me that it may well be the last Phantom show at Hyakuri as next year will see a "tri-annual review" at Hyakuri and they apparantly never have the show in the years with such a review.

Maybe that is why 301 Sqn created a special one already this year.
Anyway, with the much reduced flying, I left Hyakuri with the overwhelming feeling that it's over for the Phantom there.

For those who go to the show, enjoy them while you can.

Buysse 2.

[Erazkiel]

Hi guys,
I looking for someone going there and able to buy me the special farewell patches and remove before flight (if any) from the 301sq.
I paypal the person in advance of course.

If you can help me, reach by MP.

[Dat Plane Guy]

Hi all,
Does anyone have any information about the opening times for the Hyakuri Peace Towers for the airshow this Saturday and Sunday? We're looking at visiting them on the Saturday.

Cheers in advance!

[Uni]

Hi all,
Does anyone have any information about the opening times for the Hyakuri Peace Towers for the airshow this Saturday and Sunday? We're looking at visiting them on the Saturday.

Cheers in advance!

I heard they opened the peace Towers at about 0200AM on Sunday last time.
The queue of cars for enterance started before 2100PM on Saturday.

This year some coach buses(tour buses) cannot reserve their car park in the base,
becaouse there will come a lot of tour-buses to Hyakuri, Hyakuri air base said.

There are some private car parks(temporally) available around the Hyakuri air base,
cost 2,500-5,000 JPY/day.

It will take 2-5km walk to the main gate of the Hyakuri, but I expect they will be full
by the midnight this time.

Good Luck !

Uni

[Uni]

We can't go to he South side of Nyutabaru AFB on 14 and 15 Dec. this year.
Because of the traffic control.
Only the residents who have the permission issued by the local town office can go there.

https://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/nyutabaru/ai ... #thisPoint

Uni

[Buysse 2]

We can't go to he South side of Nyutabaru AFB on 14 and 15 Dec. this year.
Because of the traffic control.
Only the residents who have the permission issued by the local town office can go there.

https://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/nyutabaru/ai ... #thisPoint

Uni

Hi, Uni.

Is it just that we can't go to the Southside by car? Or is the area going to be closed off for pedestrians also?
I can't go to Nyutabaru this year, but I remember going to the show by train and on foot. After visiting the static show, I just walked to the Southside on foot for the flying display.
Is that still going to be possible for those who go to the show?

Cheers, Buysse 2.

[Uni]

Hi,
The traffic controls of the Nyutabaru O.H. this year;

1. No cars can go to the NW side, West side and South side of the base.
(Need the permission which is issued at the local town office)

2. Pedestrians can not go walk at NW side and South side(main photographing area) of the base.
(Need the permission which is issued at the local town office)
　You can go only the both side of the R/W-end on foot.

3. You can go (and return) to the base by shuttle bus from JR Takanabe station(470 JPY) or Miyazaki city (Miyakoh city bus center, 1050 JPY).
The Miyakoh city bus center ("Miyakou shitii basu sentah" in Japanese. ) is 200m west of JR Minami-Miyazaki station).
The 1st. bus from JR Takanabe is at 0630am and arrive at 0700am. The last bus from the base is 1620pm.
The 1st. bus from Miyakoh city center is at 0550am and arrive at 0705am. The Last bus from the base is 1620pm.

4. You also can go(and return) to the base on foot from JR Hyuga-shintomi station,
but you can't go to the South area.

The traffic controles on 14-15 Dec..
https://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/nyutabaru/ai ... raffic.pdf

Car Parks around the base.(Shuttle buses are available.)
https://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/nyutabaru/ai ... foPark.pdf

Shuttle bus timetable
https://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/nyutabaru/ai ... nfoBus.pdf

Uni

[Uni]

I think there were(are) some narrow passes around the South area of Nyutabaru.
Try them !

Uni

[Stilwell]

I understand from conversations that were had during the Nyutabaru airshow that the extra restrictions this year were the result of the farmer’s access to the fields south of the base being restricted by poorly parked cars last year. I don’t know on what days, as the restrictions on cars this year for the southern fields was the same as previous years I have attended the show – no access without authorisation on Saturday and Sunday – and I don’t know how the pedestrian restrictions fitted into this situation. It appears the new limitations were driven by the local government (the people with blue flashing lights on their vehicles) rather than the civilian police (red flashing lights) or the military (the people in camouflage fatigues).

It looks like there was no attempt to chase pedestrians off the southern fields this year – there was a car with blue flashing lights on the southern road, but it didn’t interfere with any of the many pedestrians there. On Sunday there was a civil police motorcycle patrol on the southern road, telling people in cars who didn’t have the appropriate permission to leave, but that was about it. On Saturday I arrived before the checkpoints were manned; on Sunday I arrived just before the flying started and walked past the man at the checkpoint with a jaunty “Ohayo Gozaimasu” with no hassle in response. So it looks like the reported restrictions to pedestrian access to the southern road were not being enforced.

I would say there were fewer pedestrians in the southern fields than for previous shows, and there was no swarm of step-ladder carrying cyclists along the southern road that characterised previous shows. Probably a good thing.

Uni, thanks very much again for your valuable information – it made planning my trip this year a lot better than it would otherwise have been. Now I have to figure out what other shows if any will be in May 2020, for a four week trip starting with Iwakuni Friendship day. But that is a different topic...

Jonathan.

[Uni]

To say about Nyutabaru airshow 2019
(I myself did not go there, so checked some SNS-posts in Japanese)

1) There were about 100-200 peope at the South area this year (usually 300-500 people).
2) Some person could be enter the South area without permission.
3) Some police men or JASDF personnels said " This year is not so much tight, but it will be more tight or more sever limitations next year".
4) This is only my expectation: They will make some shelters for the F-35Bs at the South area of Nyutabaru.
So they will lock out almost all the Southern areas in a few years.
(Some rumor say that JASDF had started to have conversations with the land owners to get their land)
The situation will be worse next year, I think.

That's all today.

Uni

P.S. Thank you, Jonathan !