NAF Atsugi traffic / Feb 2010

[EsKaihla]

As the carrier is in the port and all the planes are in NAF Atsugi, I thought it'd be a good time to go to get some photos. Few results from the two afternoons spent there.

P-3C Orion, these did touch-and-go's throughout the whole afternoon on both days.


C-130T Hercules, VR-55, US Navy.


Grumman E-2C Hawkeye of VAW-115 "Liberty Bells", which is in the middle of changing it's aircraft.


F/A-18F, VFA-102 "Diamondbacks". Note the "Battle E" effectiveness award painted on the fuselage, just aft of the cockpit.


Kawasaki XP-1, JMSDF. Supposed to replace the P-3C Orion in JMSDF service.


One more of the XP-1.


ShinMaywa US-1A.


F/A-18E, VFA-115 "Eagles", which replaced VFA-192 "Golden Dragons" as they rotated back to Lemoore for Super Hornet transition.


Dash 8-300Q, Japan Coast Guard. Replacing the YS-11 in Coast Guard use.


UC-35, US Navy.


YS-11, Japan Coast Guard. Possibly the last one still flying in JCG colors.


Grumman EA-6B Prowler, VAQ-136 "Gauntlets" in CAG colors.


YS-11, JASDF Flight Checker Squadron from Iruma.


F/A-18E, VFA-115 "Eagles" in CAG colors.


F/A-18F, VFA-102 "Diamondbacks".


F/A-18E, VFA-27 "Royal Maces".


Grumman EA-6B Prowler, VAQ-136 "Gauntlets".


C-130H Hercules, JASDF.


UC-12F, US Marines.


Yet another P-3C Orion.


Grumman E-2C Hawkeye, still wearing markings of it's previous owner (VAW-117 "Wallbangers", USS Nimitz).


Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk, HSL-51 "Warlords". Also wearing the "Battle E" and a "Wrench" maintenance award.


I'll be adding these and some more to my homepage (see link in signature) when I have the time. Wish I could have seen more CAG birds, but no luck this time...

-Esa

[Kurosaki]

wow...that "F/A-18E, VFA-115 "Eagles" in CAG colors" is totally hot. nice pictures

[campbeme]

Very nice shots there.

Mark

[sprocky]

Love the ShinMaywa US-1A. Really a strange looking aircraft.

[lewis]

Fantastic shots, thanks for sharing. Lewis

[james84]

Great shots, and the Kawasaki is a new one to me!
Are there non-Super Hornets as well?

[MIKE JG]

Great shots! Love the XP-1!

[EsKaihla]

Thanks for the comments, guys! Yes, there is still one CVW-5 squadron with F/A-18C (VFA-195 Dambusters), but unfortunately they didn't fly when I was there. I was told that sometimes you may also get to see some F/A-18C/Ds from Marines that drop by. The XP-1 was a nice catch as it doesn't fly every day. It's the second of the two prototypes, and they're making operational evaluation flights from Atsugi.

Also a correction to that last E-2C photo... that plane is actually going to the VAW-117, and USS Nimitz will be it's new home. Not the other way around as I originally thought .

-Esa

[EsKaihla]

Few more photos...

The park in the south especially gives you a nice view to the runway.


I hope to get better photo of these two someday. Don't get to see Hawker Hunters so much... These two belong to ATAC.


VFA-195 is the last of CVW-5 squadrons operating the F/A-18C.


EA-6B makes a nice change among all those F/A-18s.


One more look at that VFA-115 CAG bird with updated markings for their new home.


C-9 continues to soldier on, lately two has been stationed at Atsugi.


C-40A will take over from them, though...


C-2A of VRC-30 Det 5 "Providers".


The second production example of ShinMaywa US-2 flying boat, destined to replace the older US-1A.


Those who are interested can find more of the same on my website.

Best regards,
-Esa

[MIKE JG]

Looks like a really busy base over there. Thanks for sharing. We love seeing the variety of aircraft!

[campbeme]

[Felix]

Looks like a really busy base over there. Thanks for sharing. We love seeing the variety of aircraft!

Can you see this kind of variety anywhere else in the world?

[james84]

Great shots!
Which lens have you used?

[EsKaihla]

Thank you, I use Canon EF70-300mm IS USM lens with Canon 30D body. Atsugi is good place to take photos, as even 200mm lens would be enough for everything except the smallest aircraft. It is reasonably busy as well, at least when the air wing is not deployed on the carrier. Here are a few more recent shots.

US Army Sikorsky UH-60A Blackhawk, 78th Aviation Battalion from Camp Zama.


USMC UC-12F from Futenma, Okinawa.


F/A-18E of VFA-27, carrying a 500lb GBU-38 JDAM under its wing.


Another F/A-18E from VFA-27, this time with a "buddy-store" pod housing a refueling hose and drogue.


Few CAG jets, still missing the VFA-102 one...! VFA-115, F/A-18E


VFA-27, also F/A-18E. Finally made an appearance after spending most of the spring in the maintenance shop.


Grumman C-2A Greyhound (VRC-30 Detachment 5).


Not military, but has been around Atsugi lately. JA315G is a relatively new C208B belonging to Geological Survey Institute.


JMSDF has one UP-3C Orion, used as an equipment and sensor test bed.


One of three UP-3D Orions, used for ESM training. This one is also the last P-3 airframe built in the world.


JMSDF utilizes the Beech C-90 in two roles, as a training aircraft (TC-90)...


...and as a liaison aircraft (LC-90).


ShinMaywa US-1A continues the tradition of big flying boats. There is a good article at Air&Space magazine about these machines.


ShinMaywa US-2 (formerly known as US-1A Kai) is quite likely the most advanced flying boat in the world.


First Kawasaki XP-1 built, in red&white factory livery.


YS-11M still soldiers on as JMSDF's transport aircraft.


One last shot before nightfall.


-Esa

[MIKE JG]

Love your shots. In addition to being great photos, these help us track which aircraft are operating where these days which helps us to make the packs even more accurate than they otherwise would be. Thank you!

[juniboy]

Wow, nice shots.
When i was on the way to Hokkaido, the train passed by Misawa Air Base, but i didn't see any F-16s or F-2s flying out there.
The only thing I saw was a JASDF P-3 orion descending near the train station of the city of Misawa.
Nice pictures!!