Iruma Air Show 2010 入間航空祭

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Iruma Air Base is near Inariyama Koen Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line (40-50 min. from Ikebukuro). This is the crowd leaving the train platform at around 9 am.

Inariyama Koen Station is a small train station, but only on the day of the annual Iruma Air Show, they set up this huge train station exit.

A record-breaking 280,000 attended the Iruma Air Show on Nov. 3, 2010. The festivities started at 9 am and admission was free. This was also a super sunny day.

They inspected our bags and even had a German Shepherd dog.

It would take maybe only 5 min. reach Iruma Base from the train station, but it took us at least 25 min. with numerous stop-and-go crowd control.

Trying to cross the train tracks. Another bottleneck as trains always pass by.

Finally getting nearer to Iruma Air Base, the Japan Air Self-Defense Forces' largest air base.

The first thing I saw was this YS-11 flying around. They had a parade and Miss Air Show contest, but I was too late for that.

This was the 42nd Iruma Air Show on Nov. 3, 2010.

YS-11 landed.

This is a U-125 plane which was also flying and had landed when we got to the air base.

Even at around 9:30 am, a huge crowd.

At the front line in front of the Blue Impulse Aerobatic planes.

Blue Impulse jets parked front and center.

Blue Impulse jet

More photos of the Blue Impulse later on below.

Next were three Kawasaki C-1 transport jets taking off.

C-1 flying over Blue Impulse.

Another Kawasaki C-1 military transport jet taking off. It has the Japan Air Self-Defense Force livery.

Kawasaki C-1 has been around since the 1970s.

The three Kawasaki C-1 in formation during a fly-by.

The Kawasaki C-1 return to release parachute troopers.

Kawasaki C-1 for a parachute drop at Iruma Air Show in Saitama.

The three Kawasaki C-1 jets dropped parachuters onto Iruma Air Base.

I've never seen so many parachutists in an air show before.

C-1

A squadron of T-4 trainer jets perform semi-aerobatics.

T-4 trainer jets

They didn't release any smoke.

T-4 trainer jet lands.

UH-60J rescue helicopter demo.

CH-47J Chinook helicopter demonstrates cargo transport. They had something flying in the air almost non-stop all morning until around lunch time.

The crowd. Behind is a large hangar where they had aircraft displays.

The crowd waits for the Blue Impulse.

As 1:15 pm approaches, the crowd gets bigger and more eager to watch the Blue Impulse, seen here in the background.

I waded up to near the front row at around 12:30 pm to await the Blue Impulse to take off. Blue Impulse is Japan's foremost aerobatic team belonging to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.

The Blue Impulse flies Kawasaki T-4 jets since 1995. They were established in 1960, inspired by the Thunderbirds of the US Air Force.

This ground crew of a Blue Impulse T-4 includes a woman.

Pilot putting on his helmet. This year in 2010 happens to be the 50th anniversary of the Blue Impulse team established in 1960.

Seven Blue Impulse planes were on display, but only six of them flew. Blue Impulse is based at Matsushima Air Base in Miyagi Prefecture. They have a busy performance schedule from April to Dec. ブルーインパルスの曲技飛行

Ready to leave for the runway.

As the jets taxied off, the pilots waved to the crowd.

Blue Impulse Kawasaki T-4

The jet blast from the T-4 wasn't so bad, but it did blow away a few caps on our heads.

Blue Impulse head for the runway at Iruma Air Base.

And now here they come in all their glory, the Blue Impulse Aerobatic Team.

All these formations and aerobatic maneuvers all have a name. This is the Diamond Formation.

Two more Blue Impulse jets later took off.

Spectacular formations.

Blue Impulse Aerobatic Team at Iruma Air Show.

Flying upside down.

The smoke color was either white or gray.

Thrilling show, but the element of danger is always present. The Blue Impulse have had a few fatal accidents.

Also see my YouTube video here.

Star Cross: Smokey star in the sky. They also drew a Valentine heart, complete with an arrow. Also see my YouTube video here.

Blue Impulse official Web site here.

This Tack Cross has one jet flying straight while the other is spiraling around it. Quite spectacular.

The crowd cheers wildly as the Blue Impulse returns. They performed until around 2:30 pm. The festival ended at 3 pm when many of the planes on display took off for home.

Iruma Air Show Blue Impulse video 2010.

Sikorsky SH-60J Seahawk anti-submarine warfare helicopter

Sikorsky SH-60J Seahawk

UH-60J rescue helicopter is based on the Black Hawk copter.

This U-125A plane is for search and rescue operations. A good number and variety of planes were also on display. Some of them were flown during the air show.