Yokota Airbase Friendship Festival 2023
In May, I went to the Yokota Airbase Friendship Fesitval. It was held at Yokota Airbase, a base on the western outskirts of Tokyo, which is the command center for US Forces Japan and also the JASDF Air Defense Command Headquarters. This was my first time to go, and I was very surprised how popular it was. Thousands of people attended. Food, drink and some music entertainment was available, and of course the US Air Force (and JASDF) airplanes were on display.
I stayed for a few hours and took several photos and videos. (The festival itself is held over two days). Arriving around 13:00, it was fairly crowded. Fortunately the airbase is so large, and the aircraft and other attractions (food, drink, live music) were fairly spread out.
The really interesting aircraft were the F-35As. Also watching the takeoff and flypast of the V-22 Ospreys was very fun. Below is a selection of photos taken by me.
F-35A on display.
Below is the back of what I assume is a GE F108 engine.
C-130 Hercules
Not sure what variants were on display. At least two that I could see.
RQ-4 Global Hawk (I think)
T-4 Trainer
This is a Japanese designed and made trainer aircraft.
Blue Impulse display team T-4, Blue Impulse are the JASDF aerobatics team.
F-16
There were several F-16 variants
Various Helicopters
There were several helicopters
Osprey