Image search results - "aircraft" - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Image search results - "aircraft"

Following the USS Midway, the USS Independence was the second forward-deployed US aircraft carrier in Japan. It was based in Yokosuka during 1991-98.

I went with a group to tour the USS Independence while it was homeported at Yokosuka. All the planes were gone, flown to Atsugi.

CV-62 Freedom's Flagship is nicknamed "Indy." Commissioned in 1959.

Elevator

Bow and anchor

Riding on the elevator to the flight deck.

The elevator is normally used to carry planes up to the flight deck.

Flight deck of the USS Independence. The island or control tower can be seen.

Control tower of the Indy.

Flight deck of the USS Independence.

Catapult

We all received a cap.

Nets along the edge function as a safety net for any crew who has to jump off the flight deck.

The flight deck is dotted with these lugs used to tie down the planes.

Fan tail

Sailor

Bridge

Inside the bridge

Bridge

"Welcome aboard!"

Captain's seat. We took turns sitting on it for pictures.

View of the flight deck from the bridge.

Bridge windows

Inside the USS Independence

Submarine moored in the next berth.

Sailor

Hangar below deck. The USS Independence was decommissioned in Sept. 1998.

This is the USS Midway which I also toured with a group while it was still homeported in Yokosuka during 1973-1991. The first US aircraft carrier to be homeported outside the US.

Flight deck of the USS Midway.

USS Midway control tower

USS Midway flight deck

There were no planes on the carrier when we visited. They were all at Atsugi. This jet was gutted and used only for ground crew training.

Elevator on USS Midway

USS Midway hangar. The ship is now a museum in San Diego, California.

Memorial for the workers at the Hitachi Aircraft engine factory who died from aerial bombings by the US during World War II.

Back of former Hitachi Aircraft Transformer Substation.

Hokusai ukiyoe on the tail of a Cessna.

Nebuta motif even. But no tanabata?? How come?? (See Fussa's Tanabata Festival here.)

When you walk further down, you see the static displays of miltary aircraft.

On the left side were mostly helicopters and cargo aircraft.

On the right side, were mostly fighter planes.

Besides Yokota, these planes came from various places such as Kadena (Okinawa) and Misawa (Aomori) Air Bases.

I'm not an expert at military aircraft. I can only tell you the names of the most famous ones.

F-16 Fighting Falcon

The pilots or staff were on hand selling patches, T-shirts, etc.

This one stood out, like a swank sports car. Looks like a fast critter.

Fightin' Samurai T-shirt

Pilot's name

F-15 Eagle fighter

Fighter pilots always look quite intelligent. A college degree is required.

This plane, they allowed people to look inside the cockpit. A long line for this.

Climb up to see the cockpit. "Wow, awesome!"

F-22 Raptor, the stealth fighter. They had two of them on display. They came from Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. Next time, I'll ask them what it takes to become a stealth fighter pilot.

F-22 Raptor, the plane that Japan wants, but US bans its export. As a US and Japanese taxpayer, I paid a part of the cost of all the planes on display. Doesn't that make me a part owner?

F-22 Raptor, the stealth fighter. I thought the plane was black, but they are dull gray.

Planes with the familiar red dot belong to Japan's Self-Defense Forces. Japan Air Self Defense Force Mitsubishi F-2 fighter.

Japan Air Self Defense Force F-4 Phantom

Most of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force planes took off later in the day. Most of the US planes from outside Yokota left the next day.

Japan Air Self Defense Force Kawasaki C-1

P-3 Orion

AWACS plane

C-130 on the runway to take off for an airborne demo.

Three C-130 Hercules cargo planes start to take off one after another for an airborne demo.

C-130 taking off.

Some time later, the three C-130 planes dropped several men in parachutes.

Men in parachutes heading toward Yokota Air Base. They landed on the runway area.

Parachutes in the air.

After a job well done, the three C-130s return to Yokota Air Base.

C-130 landing at Yokota Air Base. Also see my YouTube video here.

C-130 landing at Yokota Air Base. These planes drew large crowds as they took off and landed. There are many aircraft fans in Japan, photographers crazy about military aircraft.

On the farthest end of the festival site were the two biggest planes on display. The C-17 Globemaster III (left) and C-5 Galaxy (right).

C-5 Galaxy transport plane, one of the largest aircraft in the world. One of my favorites.

C-5 Galaxy transport plane was fully open for public viewing. We could just walk through the plane's cargo hold. No lines of people.

This C-5 Galaxy came from Travis Air Base in California. Its gaping mouth open for visitors. I like the design of this plane. It's nice.

This baby can carry a lotta stuff. It can swallow a helicopter whole. Can you believe the C-5 has been in service since 1969? That's 40 years ago! Happy birthday!

Inside the cargo hold of the C-5 Galaxy cargo plane. Also see my YouTube video here.

People could also sit and rest inside the C-5 Galaxy.

Floor of the C-5 Galaxy, dotted with eyelets for hooks or ropes to secure the cargo.

Exit of the C-5 Galaxy. The plane's openings on both the front and back enables unloading and loading to be done at the same time.

Inside the C-5 Galaxy, selling T-shirts, "Size does matter."

The C-5 Galaxy has 28 wheels.

C-5 Galaxy engine

Side view of the C-5 Galaxy's front end. The closest thing we have to Thunderbird 2.

These people are lining up to see the C-5 Galaxy's cockpit on the upper deck.

Lining up to see the C-5 Galaxy's cockpit on the upper deck. There are some passenger seats as well.

At the mouth of the plane is this ladder going up the cockpit of the C-5 Galaxy.

C-5 Galaxy crew

Next to the C-5 Galaxy was the second largest plane on display: The C-17 Globemaster III. This plane came from Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Front and nose of C-17 Globemaster III

C-17 Globemaster III

C-17 Globemaster III and C-5 Galaxy cargo planes

People also lined up to sit in the cockpit of the C-17 Globemaster III. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to line up and see the cockpit of any of the planes.

C-17 Globemaster III has only one opening (in the rear) for loading/unloading cargo.

We could also enter the C-17 Globemaster III from the rear.

Entering the C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane.

Inside the C-17 Globemaster III. I could almost smell the Hawaiian air. A few people from Hawaii were inside the plane selling souvenirs, greeting people with "Aloha!"

Engines of the C-17 Globemaster III.

Next to the C-17 Globemaster III was this refueling plane called the KC-135 Stratotanker made by Boeing.

The KC-135 Stratotanker has been in service since 1957.

People could also enter the KC-135 Stratotanker.

Young Tigers on the tail of this KC-135 Stratotanker.

Below the tail is the refueling pipe (with fins) of the KC-135 Stratotanker.

Entering the KC-135 Stratotanker.

Sky-colored C-130 of the Japan Air Self-Defence Force.

We could only peek inside Japan's C-130.

A long line to enter the C-130 Hercules plane.

C-130 Hercules.

C-130 nose

Girl in yukata kimono posing with military persons in uniform in front of the C-130.

I wish they had signs in front of each plane so we can identify the plane and know where it came from.

Torii at Yokota Air Base. I remember that there was a control tower back here. Not there anymore. In fact, I couldn't find the control tower anywhere.

Torii at Yokota Air Base.

They should understand that the samurai was a land-based fighter. They never flew in the air.

Japan Air Self Defense Force, U-125A

Long lines almost everywhere.

Now for the helicopters. A bunch of them were on display, including this Huey.

People lined up to sit in the cockpit of the Huey helicopter.

Chinook helicopter

Interesting shape of the rotor blades.

So what's the difference between a green helo and a blue one (next photo)?

The green (camoflauge) one is for flying over land, the blue for ocean.

Trying on pilot's helmets.

At around 2 pm, they started to clear people away from part of the aircraft display area. Some of the aircraft were to depart. This happens only on the second day of the festival.

The aircraft started departing at around 3 pm.

Fighter on the runway.

Helicopter taking off at Yokota Air Base.

We were then treated to a series of flybys by planes leaving Yokota Air Base. After each plane took off, they flew by us and did a few airborne tricks.

Deafening noise, but very dramatic and a great ending to a great friendship festival. Also see my YouTube video here.

Beechcraft

U-125A

Most of the planes leaving Yokota were from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. a nice festival climax, but the festival wouldn't end until night time when fireworks were held.

The Chinook helicopter going to the runway to take off.

Chinook helicopter up and away.

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