First spottings of the new year / Hyakuri & Atsugi

[EsKaihla]

First time for everything: an afternoon visit to Hyakuri! Still lookin for the best places, but I'll definitely be back...!

3x F-4EJ Phantom II, 302 Hikotai.


F-4EJ (97-8425) from 302 Hikotai.


RF-4E (57-6909) from 501 Hikotai.


Only 305 Hikotai is operating F-15's from Hyakuri. The 204 Hikotai went to Naha, Okinawa few years ago and swapped places with 302 Hikotai.

F-15J (22-8814) with aerial gunnery target equipment on center pylon.


F-15DJ (32-8082).


F-15J (62-8958).


RF-4EJ (07-6433). These reconnaissance Phantoms converted from the fighter version don't have a camera gear at the nose, but instead they use a specially designed centerline pod (not present on the example I happened to catch!).

[EsKaihla]

Atsugi is at it's busiest now, with CVW-5 squadrons flying almost daily to keep their skills up.

VFA-27 F/A-18E, NF-207 (165788).


VFA-115 F/A-18E, NF-303 (166862).


VAQ-136 EA-6B, NF-504 (163404).


VFA-102 F/A-18F, NF-101 (166916).


US Navy P-3C Orion (160762). The Navy Orions reside at Kadena, Okinawa, but sometimes they come to Atsugi for maintenance done by NIPPI.


HS-14 Chargers SH-60F, NF-620 (164078). This Seahawk has been painted in a low-visibility version of HS-14 CAG scheme.


Kawasaki XP-1 (5502) is still continuing the evaluation flights.


More classics. Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC) provides threat and target simulation for US Navy with a couple of Hawker Hunter F.58's (N321AX and N322AX).


Hawker Hunter F.58 (N322AX).

[EsKaihla]

Finally I have managed to collect all the colorful "Boss Birds" of the CVW-5 (apart from the helos)! I'll use that achievement as an exuse to list them all here .

VFA-102 Diamondbacks, Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet, NF-100 (166915).


VFA-27 Royal Maces, Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet, NF-200 (165860).


VFA-115 Eagles, Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet, NF-300 (166859).


VFA-195 Dambusters, McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18C Hornet, NF-400 (164899). VFA-195 is currently back at NAS Lemoore, California, for F/A-18E/F transition. After that has been completed, the CVW-5 will be the first Carrier Air Wing with all Strike Fighter Squadrons having F/A-18E/F Super Hornet equipment.


VAQ-136 Gauntlets, Grumman EA-6B Prowler, NF-500 (164402).


VAW-115 Liberty Bells, Grumman E-2C Hawkeye 2000, NF-600 (165817).


VRC-30 Providers Detachment 5, Grumman C-2A Greyhound, NF-21(162176). This C-2A has recently lost its colorful tail, but no other colorful design to take its place has been seen yet.


That should be enough for a while... Will be back with more as something new (hopefully) comes up!

-Esa

[Victory103]

Outstanding shots, love the low vis HS-14 Seahawk. Looks like NF101 is a recent addition to VFA-102.

Nice landing shots of the F-4EJ's, recently d/l the Virtavia F-4 packs and now know I need to close the "boards" on land based Phantoms.

[btaylo24]

Great shots, and thank you for sharing them .