Shizuhama: Air Fiesta 2007

Shizuhama airbase was the first one on our trip. This training base is host to 11 Hiko Kyoikudan which flies the Fuji T-7 and is used for basic flying training. The unit also operated the T-3, but it was withdrawn from service last year after 28 years of service.

On the day of our visit an airshow was being held at Shizuhama which was being promoted as "Air Fiesta 2007". Due to some delays on our side and the fact that Japanese airshows tend to finish pretty early (15:00), we arrived when the participating aircraft were already departing. In fact, we only just managed to get inside. We were denied access at the first gate that we tried. Fortunately, at the other entrance they were less strict and we hurried to the flightline to catch the last departing aircraft.

It's common knowledge that the end of a Japanese airshow is the best moment to take your pictures: most of the crowd is already gone by then and the leaving aircraft usually perfom a low fly-by after their take-off.