JASDF to host Misawa Air Festival

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kelly White
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  The Misawa Air Base gates will open to the public Sunday at 8:30 a.m. for the 2008 Misawa Air Festival, with a mixed formation of F-2s, F-4s, T-4s and our own F-16CJs taking flight over the crowd at 9:01 a.m.

The Misawa Air Festival will be unique in a couple of ways this year, said Capt. Chris Morton, Misawa Air Festival project officer. Misawa city is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and the air festival will also serve as the Misawa community and Japan Air Self-Defense Force member's tribute and farewell to their F-4, he said.

Because base traffic will be heavily congested due to the anticipated 100,000 visitors, flightline shuttle service will be provided to and from the base exchange and from the North Area Shoppette, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Misawa Main Gate will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for foot traffic only.

The Falcon and Levitow Gates will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for foot traffic, base taxis, and emergency, handicap, distinguished visitor and Status of Forces Agreement vehicles. The Levitow Gate is reserved for on-shift, uniformed SOFA personnel performing official duties during the airshow.

The R Gate will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for foot traffic, and emergency, vendor and JASDF vehicles.

The Oka Gate will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for buses, and SOFA and DV vehicles.

The Gettysburg, North and Kamakita Gates will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for SOFA vehicles only.

General parking will be available at Security Hill. Invitational parking will be available on the main base, as well as very limited general parking for SOFA vehicles. Handicap and DV parking will be available at base operations, and vendor parking will be available at Buildings 909 and 926.

During the show, visitors will have an opportunity to see more than 50 static displays, 12 JASDF and U.S. aerial demonstrations, and ground shows and musical entertainment. There will also be food, beverage and souvenirs for sale.

JASDF and U.S. static displays will include the F-2, F-4, T-4, F-16C Fighting Falcon, F-15C Eagle, E-3 Sentry (AWACS), KC-135 Stratotanker, C-130 Hercules, A-10 Thunderbolt II, F/A-18 Hornet, UH-60 Blackhawk, SH-60 Seahawk, UC-12 Huron, UH-1N Huey, P-3C Orion and many others.

Among the many aerial demonstrations are JASDF's F-2 and F-4 demo teams, Air Rock, and the air festival headliner, Blue Impulse. U.S. aerial demonstrations include the F-15 West Coast Demonstration Team from Eglin AFB, Fla., and Misawa's own F-16 demonstration, as well as a B-52 fly-by.

During the lunch break, the JASDF Northern Air and the U.S. Air Force PACAF Bands will perform, and JASDF will also provide an F-2 junior show.

Visitors can also be entertained during the JASDF vs. U.S. weapons-loading competition, and the F-4 fini-flight that will wrap up the day's events.

"People will see a great display of fire power and aerial assets during this year's air festival," said Captain Morton.

2008 JASDF Air Festival Schedule of Events 

7 a.m. Shuttle service starts
8:30 a.m. Gates open to public
9:01 a.m. F-2/F-4/T-4/F-16 Aircraft flyby
9:10 a.m. Weapons loading demonstration
9:30 a.m. F-4 performance and AAA
10:00 a.m. F-15C performance
10 a.m. Weapons-loading Competition in Hangar 911
10:15 a.m. F-2 performance
10:30 a.m. Air Rock performance
10:55 a.m. CH-47 performance
11:05 a.m. B-52 flyby
11:15 a..m UH-60 performance
11:20 a.m. Northern Air Band performs in Hangar 290
11:30 a.m. PACAF Band performs on flightline
11:45 a.m. F-2 Jr. performance
12:00 p.m. E-2 flyby
12:20 p.m. Blue Impulse performance
1:00 p.m. Weapons-loading Competition in Hangar 911
1:45 p.m. F-16CJ performance
2:35 p.m. F-4 performance