Yokota AB Friendship Festival '09 – Raptors come to Tokyo!

Please allow me to take you on a short trip to the Far East! The yearly Yokota Air Base Friendship Festival took place on August 22nd/23rd near Tokyo. On display was a good collection of both US Air Force and Japanese Self Defence Forces units. This year’s event took place in a very typical weather for any aviation event, i.e. gray and cloudy skies! Nevertheless, it was still well worth going to. According to reports the two days gathered a total of 170000 visitors. Here’s a quick look at what was on display.

F-16C Fighting Falcon from Kunsan AB, Korea.

Another F-16C. Also from Korea, but from Osan AB.

F-16D, Misawa AB, Japan

F-15C Eagle still going strong. One pair had arrived from Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan

Couple of A-10A ground attack planes had also arrived from Osan AB, Korea.

It may not be the most beautiful airplane ever designed, but it certainly is photogenic!

Mitsubishi F-2 (here a 2-seater F-2B) is based on the F-16C/Agile Falcon project and is built in co-operation with Lockheed-Martin.

U.S. Marine Corps had two F/A-18D Hornet on display. VMFA(AW)-225 “Vikings” had brought in their “Boss bird”.

The other Marine F/A-18D belonged to VMFA(AW)-533 “Hawks”.

A classic you can’t get tired of: F-4EJ Phantom II of 302 Hikotai, which is now based in Hyakuri near Tokyo.

This particular Phantom II used to belong to 8 Hikotai in Misawa, until they retired their F-4s last year.

The KC-135R came from Kadena, along with the F-15s, E-3B and Raptors.

JMSDF P-3C Orion, from NAF Atsugi.

C-17 Globemaster III, all the way from Hickam AFB, Hawaii.

Although not a scheduled performer, a C-32 dropped by.

A small flight demo consisted of a group of C-130 Hercs dropping troops. Here’s one taxiing to the take-off position.

Number of bypasses and letting the troops go.

And back on the ground again. All participating Hercs were Yokota based.