Postcard from Iruma

NEWS Special

AFM contributor Rolf Flinzner was at Iruma Air Base in the city of Sayama, Saitama Prefecture, north of western Tokyo, when the Japan Air Self-Defense Force opened the station’s doors to the public as part of the Culture Day national holiday on November 3.

Two-seat F-2B 23-8111 (c/n 3011) is one of the 21 Hikotai jets stationed at the Air Training Command’s Matsushima AB, where they operate alongside the T-4s of the Blue Impulse display team. No fewer than 18 F-2Bs were originally declared beyond repair after the earthquake and tsunami that flooded Matsushima in March 2011. The Japan Defense Ministry subsequently contracted Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to rebuild 13 examples, which were redelivered to the JASDF between 2015 and 2018.

<

Become a Premium Member to Read More

This is a premium article and requires an active Key.Aero subscription to view.

I’m an existing member, sign me in!

I don’t have a subscription…

Enjoy the following subscriber only benefits:

  • Unlimited access to all KeyAero content
  • Exclusive in-depth articles and analysis, videos, quizzes added daily
  • A fully searchable archive – boasting hundreds of thousands of pieces of quality aviation content
  • Access to read all our leading aviation magazines online - meaning you can enjoy the likes of FlyPast, Aeroplane Monthly, AirForces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, Aviation News, Airports of the World, PC Pilot and Airliner World - as soon as they leave the editor’s desk.
  • Access on any device- anywhere, anytime
  • Choose from our offers below