Komaki: Japanese globetrotters

Komaki airport is home to the Air Force's only C-130 squadron: 401 Hikotai. Together with the two presidential Boeing 747's, the C-130's can be considered as the only true "globetrotters" within the Japanese inventory. Since a few years, the Herks regularly take part in UN and international aid missions, especially in the Asian region.

Komaki is a shared civil/military airport. There's also a huge Mitsubishi plant on the airport, where numerous aircraft are built (like the F-2) and maintenanced. Close to the taxi-track there is a special viewing area on a small hill, together with parking spots and a playground for children.

When we arrived, we had a couple of hours left before the gate of the parkingplace would close at 5 PM. We saw a C-130 and a U-125 making touch & go's and the based UH-60's were also flying. The Mitsubishi factory caused most of the excitement when an F-4EJ Phantom returned after a test flight. Shortly after, the guard told us it was closing time...