A short event report from the NAF Atsugi Open House held on Saturday, April 10. Unfortunately a flying display is no longer part of the event, due to noise complaints. Before you get inside, you’ll need to endure a long wait on the cue (this time approx. 50 minutes) to get to the security check.
Before reaching the flight line, there are several retired aircraft on display. The resident squadrons have taken ownership of them, and painted one them in their own, unique livery (apart from VFA-115 Eagles which just arrived late last year to replace VFA-192 Golden Dragons).
Douglas A-4E Skyhawk, freshly painted in the colors of the VA-195 Dambusters.
McDonnell-Douglas F-4J Phantom II, VA-27 Royal Maces.
North American SNJ Texan, in the markings of VAW-115 Liberty Bells.
Grumman EA-6B Prowler, VAQ-136 Gauntlets. I was told that this plane suffered an engine fire during engine test, after which it was decided to put it up on as a gate guard.
Grumman F-14A Tomcat, VF-102 Diamondbacks. Regrettably no longer in active service.
Upon reaching the flight line you’ll be presented by examples of all the most important aircraft types which call NAF Atsugi their home. Usually US Navy will have their colorful “boss birds” on display. There are no lines separating the people from the aircraft, and you are free to get as close to them as you want. This of course presents some challenges for any photographer wishing to capture the whole plane…
Tail art of the of a Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk, belonging to HSL-51 Warlords.
Sikorsky SH-60F Seahawk, HS-14 Chargers.
Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet, VFA-102 Diamondbacks.
Crew posing for all the eager photographers.
The same VAQ-136 Prowler, CAG colors of course.
Being part of an EA-6B Crew is more than good enough reason for a broad smile.
Grumman C-2A Greyhound of VRC-30 Providers Detachment Five.
Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet, VFA-115 Eagles.
Nose markings of VFA-115 CAG jet respects the memory of the fallen firemen.
McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18C Hornet, VFA-195 Dambusters. The “Chippy Ho!” refers to the squadron’s callsign, “Chippy”.
Not just any chicken (a close up of the port landing gear door of VFA-195 CAG jet).
Grumman E-2C Hawkeye, VAW-115 Liberty Bells. New CAG colors for VAW-115 after swapping aircraft with VAW-117.
Hawkeye crew enjoying the sunny weather and attention from the crowd.
New and old side by side. ShinMaywa US-1A and US-2 amphibious flying boats. These are not actually based at Atsugi, but are detatched there on regular basis from Iwakuni.
The venerable NAMC YS-11M is still serving JMSDF’s transportation needs. Three YS-11M remain in service. Number 9044 overran the runway on landing at Ozuki in September last year, and has since been retired.
Anyone interested can find more of my photos on my website (Atsugi event photos will be added soon).
-Esa
By: steve rowell - 20th April 2010 at 03:46
Very interesting shots Esa
By: Blue_2 - 15th April 2010 at 10:11
Very interesting shots, some great colour schemes and artwork on show there 🙂
By: pagen01 - 15th April 2010 at 09:50
Wow! I love the Shin Meiwa US-1A and US-2 and it is really the one aircraft that I really want to see still (I wish one would come to Fairford!!), good to see that they are still about.
Crackings shots, love the EA-6s aswel.
By: Flygirl - 15th April 2010 at 07:45
Nice pictures.
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April 15, 2010 at 4:11 am