Forum: F-16 News

I'm curious if a major refurb to damaged F-2 would be better invested in a joint NASA/DARPA development on an F-16XL next gen project while they're at it? God speed JASDF.

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http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/news/ ... T00229.htm

2011.03.17:
Matsushima AB damage assessment. Total 28 aircraft disabled.
24 fixed-wing aircraft: F-2, others.
Four rotary-wing aircraft: UH-60J.

Six of seven Blue Impulse T-4 were at Ashiya AB, for Kyuushuu Shinkansen (Kyuushuu bullet train line) opening ceremony on March 11.

About 900 staff are all right.

In news photo, disabled seventh T-4 looks like S/N 16-5659, IMO.

http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6 ... amp;nseq=0

http://www.asagumo-news.com/news/201103 ... 32407.html

Japanese article dated 24 March 2011.
Concise details about when the earthquake and tsunami hit Matsushima AB, Miyagi Prefecture, on 11 March 2011; and the restoration effort there as of 18 March 2011.

11 March 2011, afternoon, because bad weather, aborted training flights. 14:46, snowing.
After first earthquake passed, they ran to command HQ building, to establish emergency command post.
When tsunami warning came, they ran to third floor or above of earthquake-resistant buildings.
AB outer perimeter was 400 m from coast. About 15:30, earth, wood, and sea water of tsunami quickly flooded AB.

[SKIP]

Amongst 900 staff of Matsushima AB, only one off-duty staff was confirmed killed. Other dependents and relatives were killed or missing.
As of 23 March 2011, still no heating or power.

http://peterpan03.wordpress.com/2011/03 ... e-tsunami/

In the memory of F-2s’ lost in the tsunami

Posted: March 20, 2011 by peterpan03 in f-2

Tags: air force, color print, F-2, fighter, jasdf, jsdf

http://www.nikkei.com/news/category/art ... 2E2;at=ALL

11 April 2011:
JMOD announces some of the new pilots training at Matsushima AB, will relocate to Misawa AB.
The first batch involve about 40 instructor pilots, students, and mechanics.

Actually, this article doesn't specify what aircraft they fly, but it mentions the F-2 at Matsushima, are disabled.

Article and photos, dated before or on 2011/04/22, of the damaged Blue Impulse Jr team at Matsushima AB.

http://blog.goo.ne.jp/blueimpulsejrcom/ ... 22d4d0082b

IMO, "wipe out".

http://mainichi.jp/seibu/shakai/news/20 ... 0000c.html

20 May 2011:
Blue Impulse, JASDF, based at Matsushima AB, Miyagi Prefecture.

From May 23 to June 10, Blue Impulse moves to and trains at Ashiya AB, Fukuoka Prefecture.
Training is two to three times each day.
Ashiya AB uses T-4 to train cadet pilots, and has integrated maintenance environment.

http://www.asagumo-news.com/news/201106 ... 61309.html

30 May 2011:
UH-60J. #87.
Matsushima Kyuunantai, JASDF, based at Matsushima AB, Miyagi Prefecture.
Early morning, rescued two fishermen from a fishing boat drifting in Shidugawa Bay, near Minamisanriku Town, Miyagi Prefecture.

This article stated: on 11 March 2011, the tsunami disabled four UH-60J and three U-125 at Matsushima AB.
Next day, 12 of about 80 Matsushima Kyuunantai members hitched on rescue helicopters from Iruma AB, and transferred to Hyakuri AB.
From 13 March, by Hyakuri Kyuunantai aircraft, joined rescue activities.
Other Kyuunantai members at home base, joined disaster relief in surrounding area, and functional recovery of own squadron.
From 21 March, by own squadron aircraft, began SAR activities.

Currently on 3 June, by two SAR helicopters, searched for missing people in Iwate and Miyagi Prefecture.

In other words: if UH-60J #87 was assigned to Matsushima Kyuunantai before 11 March, then it is repaired.
If UH-60J #87 was not assigned to Matsushima Kyuunantai before 11 March, it is borrowed from another Kyuunantai, such as Hyakuri Kyuunantai.

Serial number of second Matsushima Kyuunantai UH-60J is unknown.

Condition of Matsushima AB F-2 is unknown.

http://www.asahi.com/national/update/06 ... 80185.html

18 June 2011:
Matsushima AB, Miyagi Prefecture.

100th day memorial ceremony for over 1,000 victims of earthquake and tsunami, by 4,000 living relatives.

26 June 2011:
Blue Impulse, JASDF, normally based at Matsushima AB, Miyagi Prefecture, will perform at Chitose AB air show, Hokkaidou, on 7 August 2011.

http://www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/news/sapporo/301595.html

16 June 2011:
Misawa AB air show on 4 September 2011.
Blue Impulse appearance or not, is uncertain.

http://www.toonippo.co.jp/news_too/nto2 ... f7e7644d6f

http://mainichi.jp/area/miyagi/news/201 ... 5000c.html

29 July 2011:
At Matsushima AB, Yamoto Koukuusai [Yamoto Air Festival] air show traditionally scheduled on third Sunday in August, is cancelled this year.

At Higashi Matsushima City, Higashi Matsushima Natsu Matsuri [Higashi Matsushima Summer Festival], also traditionally scheduled on day before air show, is renamed Arigatou - Higashi Matsushima Genki Festa [Thank You - Higashi Matsushima Healthy Festa] on August 20 this year.

This year, Blue Impulse, normally based at Matsushima AB, will formation flight above Festa venue.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/feature/201103 ... T00628.htm
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/news/ ... T00628.htm

20 August 2011:
Six T-4.
Blue Impulse, JASDF.

Blue Impulse performed above "Arigatou 'Higashi Matsushima Genki Festa'", Higashi Matsuhima City, Miyagi Prefecture.
Did not use runway at Matsushima AB.
Took off at Misawa AB, Aomori Prefecture.

http://www.chunichi.co.jp/s/article/201 ... 90035.html

9 September 2011:
JMOD added another 3 billion Yen in fiscal year 2011, third amendment budget.

At Sendai AP, one JGSDF EC225 helicopter for government use, and two JMSDF TC-90 trainers were overhaulled by aircraft maintenance company based at Sendai City, and damaged by tsunami on 11 March.

Because EC225 and one TC-90 had dismounted engines, they were not "aircraft subjected to aviation use", insurance did not cover them, and the country was responsible for their total costs.

Insurance covered the other TC-90 with engine, and paid the country.

http://www.town.ashiya.lg.jp/navigate/p ... bz?cd=1185

Japanese press release by Ashiya Town government, dated 2011.12.24.
After the new year, up to nine T-4 of Blue Impulse will continue to base at Ashiya AB, Fukuoka Prefecture.
Between 2012.01.09 to 2012.03.30, every day, up to three training sessions.
Two to six T-4 per session.

http://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/33318?page=2

Japanese article or essay dated 2011.12.11. Four pages.

Claims on 2011.03.11, Matsushima AB had 28 aircraft.
10 aircraft were malfunctioned or under maintenance.
18 were flyable.
About 14:00, because of bad weather, all training flights cancelled.
14:46, when earthquake happened, six aircraft were in hangars, and 12 were being checked or towed to hangars.
Matsushima AB received from weather agency, warning that big tsunami would arrive at the AB.
14:56, AB commander ordered all personnel to retreat to roofs.
15:54, after almost one hour, tsunami arrived at the AB, and 28 aircraft were disabled.

In hindsight, some commentators suggested some or all of the 18 flyable aircraft could have scrambled, took off, and escaped to other air bases or airports, during that one hour.

Article author, who claims to have flown fighters for above 3,000 hours, answered this was impossible.

After the earthquake, the AB had to check the runway for crack or damage, to avoid FOD.
After the tsunami warning, the AB did not know exact arrive time of tsunami.
Ground crew and pilots would take time to prepare the aircraft for take off.
From these procedures, to until an aircraft moved by taxiway to runway for take off, would take 30 to 40 minutes.

AB commander and senior officers decided to save the combat strength of the AB, that is, its personnel, over the aircraft.

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/shyuyuri12/54305740.html

Recent photos of Matsushima AB, taken on or before 2011/12/23.
Countless bags containing earth cleared from the AB, now surround the AB.
Photos without the bags, were taken in or before May 2011.

http://news.searchina.ne.jp/disp.cgi?y= ... _027.shtml

8 March 2012:
At Matsushima AB, aircraft damaged by tsunami include: 18 F-2, three T-4, five UH-60J, two U-125, over 100 ground vehicles, and military materiel.
After examination, six F-2 can be repaired.
Others scrapped.
Loss is 79.1 billion Yen.

After one year, buildings still damaged, and damaged aircraft and vehicles still stored.
Tarmac where aircraft parked, is empty.

Forum: F-16 News

Earthquake Japan - Misawa Info?