This is a subscription only section
Want to read more? It's only €10/year.
No account yet? Just Create an account first and head to the shop
This is a subscription only section
Want to read more? It's only €10/year.
20-21 May 2023
All photos by Marc Heesters
A large portion of the fourteen aircraft strong fleet of C-130J Hercules based at Yokota were present at the Friendship Festival. 16-5838/YJ is leading the six transporters on the flightline, three more were dispersed on the static part.
| Static | |||
| 18-1213 | C-2 | 402 Hikotai | |
| 95-1082 | C-130H | 401 Hikotai |
| 03-8503 | F-2A | 3 Hikotai |
| 02-8917 | F-15J | 201 Hikotai |
One of the more attractive CH-47 camo patterns is that of the JASDF Chinook fleet. CH-47J 77-4497 is probably operating from nearby Iruma, one of four bases where the JASDF keeps its Chinooks.
| 77-4497 | CH-47J | Koku Kyunandan |
| 26-5692/4 | T-4 | 11 Hikotai/Blue Impulse |
| 06-5789 | T-4 | Chubu Shireibu Shien Hikotai |
| 02-3031 | U-680A | Hiko Tenkentai |
| 87-0028 | C-5M | 60th AMW | 312th AS on banner |
| 84-0185 | KC-10A | 60th AMW |
| 86-0081 | C-12J | 374th AW/459th AS |
| 05-5147/HH | C-17A | 15th AW |
| 08-3177/YJ | C-130J-30 | 374th AW/36th AS |
| 14-5807/YJ | C-130J-30 | 374th AW/36th AS | 374AW mks |
| 15-5810/YJ | C-130J-30 | 374th AW/36th AS | 374OG mks |
| 62-3559/ZZ | KC-135R | 909th ARS | 909th ARS on boomwings |
 Based at Osan, South Korea, the 51st FW/36th FS sent two of its F-16CMs to the Yokota Friendship Festival. 89-2043 is still sporting this special colour scheme celebrating the squadron's 100th anniversary, it was first activated in 1917. |
 As special colours are not to everybody's taste, the 36th FS also flew in an F-16 in more standard colours. F-16CM 89-2136 has extra 51FW markings and lacks the OS tailcode. |
| 89-2043/OS | F-16CM | 36th FS | Special tail c/s 100 years FLYING FIENDS |
| 89-2136/(OS) red | F-16CM | 36th FS | 51FW mks |
| 90-0817/WW | F-16CM | 35th FW | Special tail c/s |
| 91-0400/WW red | F-16CM | 13th FS | demo on 21st |
| 92-3883/WW red | F-16CM | 13th FS | demo on 21st |
 Misawa is the home of two Wild Weasel F-16 squadrons. The 35th FW based at Misawa adorned F-16CM 90-0817/WW with a special Wild Weasel Demo tail art and flew a total of three F-16s to the show. |
 Twelve 355th FS F-35As from Eielson AFB (AK) arrived at Kadena. They are temporary based there to ensure continued steady-state fighter capabilities in the region. F-35A 19-5482/AK was one of them. |
| 19-5482/AK | F-35A | 355th FS |
| 19-5494/AK | F-35A | 355th FS |
| 69-6639 | UH-1N | 374th AW/459th AS |
| 08-2034/GF | RQ-4B | (348th RS) |
| 14-0075 | CV-22B | (21st SOS) |
| 169261/48 | AH-1Z | (HMLA-USA) |
| 169104/SN-33 | UH-1Y | HMLA-USA |
| 163087/17 | CH-53E | HMH-USA |
| N4972R | Cessna 172H | Yokota Aero Club |
| N22905 | Cessna 172M | Yokota Aero Club |
| Flightlines and flying | |||
| 86-00xx | C-12J | 374th AW/459th AS | |
| 06-4633/YJ | C-130J-30 | 374th AW/36th AS |
| 08-8604/YJ | C-130J-30 | 374th AW/36th AS |
| 15-5813/YJ | C-130J-30 | 374th AW/36th AS | 36AS mks, paradrop demo |
| 16-5833/YJ | C-130J-30 | 374th AW/36th AS | 5AF mks |
| 16-5838/YJ | C-130J-30 | 374th AW/36th AS | paradrop demo |
| 16-5841/YJ | C-130J-30 | 374th AW/36th AS |
 Used as photographer's platform, UH-1N 69-6645 is flying close to the crowdline, spotting the spotters. Four UH-1Ns should be based at Yokota, three were seen at the show. |
 CV-22B 09-0046 was photographed performing one of the few flying demos and generating some dramatic prop vortexes. Around five Ospreys should be based at Yokota, operating with 21st SOS. |
| 69-6614 | UH-1N | 374th AW/459th AS | |
| 69-6645 | UH-1N | 374th AW/459th AS | demo |
| 69-6646 | UH-1N | 374th AW/459th AS |
| 09-0046 | CV-22B | (21st SOS) | demo |
| 12-0066 | CV-22B | (21st SOS) |
| 14-0071 | CV-22B | (21st SOS) |
| 165244/29 | CH-53E | HMH-USA |
| Elsewhere and visitors | |||
| 06-6157 | C-17A | 60th AMW | |
| 06-6164 | C-17A | 60th AMW |
| 09-0015 | C-32A | (1st AS) |
The Air Mobility Command of the USAF is a regular visitor to Yokota, as are some civilian operators such as Omni and Atlas Air operating on a military contract. Two 60th AMW C-17A Globemasters from Travis AFB were present during the Festival and parked on the other side of the runway, 06-6157 closest to the camera.
Credits: All serials from photos on the Internet
As a member you get access to all our
premium content and benefits learn more