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Iruma Air Base Open Day 2024 was awesome
I hadn’t been to Iruma Air Base since 2019. That was five years ago. I remember it well. It was my first time to photograph an air show. Whatsmore it was all military aircraft from the Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF). Aircraft crowded the tarmac. Planes filled the sky. There was so much activity. The excitement was nonstop. Well, we did it all again in 2024. This time was even more exciting because I used my new camera, a Canon EOS R5.
I was pumped for this air show. Everyone at the gate was feeling the same. You could see it. The kids (including the big ones) had big smiles. Once they entered the base, they could see some big toys!
When the gates opened, it was a dash to get photos while the crowds were missing. The most popular aircraft were the same as in 2019. They were a Mitsubishi F-2 and an F-15J Kai. It was a pity there was no F-35 Lightning II.
People swarmed the planes. It was a patience game waiting for a space to open. Once one did, I moved quickly to get my photos. It was constant movement all day.
The only time I stood still was when photographing aircraft in the sky. It was fun shooting the planes and helicopters. There was so much action. A Chinook showed off its maneuverability. Kawasaki T-4s buzzed the crowd. Paratroops dropped on the runway. Big transport aircraft flew in formation. It was exciting!
I skipped most of the hangar displays. Aircraft photos were my target for the day. I didn’t want to line up with hundreds of people. Time was important. After all, the Air Show only went from 9 AM to 3 PM. That was just six hours!
The highlight of the day at Iruma Air Base was the Blue Impulse aerobatic team. This is Japan’s version of America’s Blue Angels. They flew Kawasaki T-4s, a subsonic intermediate jet trainer. The pilots knew how to work a crowd. Everyone lapped the performance up.
Well, I imagine they did because I missed it completely! Around midday I felt a fever coming on, so I beat a hasty retreat. This was a great letdown, but I didn’t want to be sick on a crowded train. That was okay because I still took plenty of photos.
What JASDF aircraft were at Iruma Air Base?
- Boeing CH-47 Chinook
- British Aerospace 125
- F-15J Kai
- Kawasaki C-1
- Kawasaki C-2
- Kawasaki T-4 jet trainer
- Lockheed C-130 Hercules
- Mitsubishi F-2
- Mitsubishi H-60 maritime helicopter
- Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk
What was my photo gear for the air show?
Camera Body: Canon EOS R5
Lens: Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM
My first impressions of the EOS R5
The Canon EOS R5 was released in 2020. That was four years ago, but that doesn’t matter. The company has supported it with firmware updates ever since. In 2024 it may as well be a new camera. Many YouTube photographers support that view. It is a capable piece of kit.
What can I say about its performance at Iruma Air Base? It was flawless. The EOS R5 was a massive investment and I was nervous when I bought it. I had never spent that much money on camera gear! But it didn’t let me down. The quality of the photos it produced was superb.
The only problem I had on the day was me! It’s hard getting used to new cameras. I spent 7 years with Fujifilm, so I knew that system inside and out. My hands know what to do when needed. That’s muscle memory for you!
And that is where my problem is. My hands and brain need to get used to the R5. It’s a bigger, heavier camera. There are no dials on it. Menus drive it. I need to memorize a new system. I’m a little slow with it. But I’ll get there! Practice makes perfect as they say. I’ll do lots of that!
Conclusion
Using my new Canon EOS R5 at the Iruma Air Base Air Show was like a dream come true. This camera might be the king of action photography! Others might lay claim to that title too. What I should say is that it exceeded my expectations. It’ll be exciting to see how it performs in other situations. Leave questions and comments below.
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External related websites:
- Iruma Air Base (official website)
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