The UH-1J on this picture is the third Huey variant in use with the JGSDF. 90 UH-1B's and 133 UH-1H's preceded this latest variant which was developed by Fuji Heavy Industries. About 114 had been delivered by early 2009 and the aircraft is still in production. Of the earlier variants, the UH-1B has completely been retired but of the UH-1H a large number remain in use. The UH-1J in the picture is operated by the Koku Gakko at Akeno, indicated by the code S on the cabin door. All training helicopters have the last two or three of the serial in white on nose and fuselage.

The planned successor for the aging Cobra fleet was supposed to be the AH-64, however budget cuts limit the JGSDF to only replace one Anti-Tank Helicopterunit with the locally produced Apache. Ten are active beginning 2012 and the latest two AH-64DJP built are operating with the 3rd Anti-Tank Helicopterunit at Metabaru, the rest flying with test and training units.

Developed and build by Kawasaki at Gifu, the OH-1 is slowly replacing the OH-6D in the observation role. First operational units to receive the OH-1 were the HQ flights of the Anti-Tank Helicopter squadrons, which was completed in 2011. Now the various HQ flights of the Army Aviation squadrons are replacing their OH-6D's with this Kawasaki product.

UH-1J IX

OH-6D IX

OH-6D XIII

AH-1S IVATH

UH-60JA IHB

The LR-1 is the army version of the MU-2 which was in use with the Koku Kyunandan. Twenty were acquired by the JGSDF with the first aircraft being delivered in 1967 and the second in 1971. Deliveries continued very slowly throughout the 70's and ten had been delivered by 1979. The aircraft once served with the headquarter flights of the five regional armies as well as the Koku Gakko, the 1 Herikoputadan and the 101 Kokutai at Naha with a UE of two aircraft per unit. The LR-1 is slowly being replaced by the LR-2 with about six remaining in service by 2009. This example is operated by the Renraku Teisatsu Hikotai, as indicated by the LR code.

The successor for the KV-107 in the JGSDF is the CH-47J and CH-47JA Chinook. Pictured is a CH-47J of which 34 were delivered from about 1986 onwards until superseded by the CH-47JA. This 104 Hikotai aircraft seen departing to form the annual mass flight pass has the new flying owl badge.

CH-47JA production started in the early nineties and deliveries continue to date with more than twenty delivered by early 2009. This Chinook version is equiped with a weather radar nose and the larger side pods. The 'HGPV' indicates that the aircraft on this picture is on strength of 105 Hikotai. The AKAGI badge does have some similarity with the long-nosed goblin head on the 304 Hikotai badge.

Three EC-225LPs are operated by the Tokubetsu Yuso Hikotai at Kisarazu. The helicopters replaced the AS-332L in 2007 and are tasked with the transportation of VIP's. The original Super Puma's are now stored in the Kanto Depot at Kasumigaura, awaiting sale.

Home for this Chinook is Takayubaru, part of the civil Kumamoto airport. It belongs to 3 Hikotai of the Seibu Homen Herikoputatai. This unit has three Hikotais, 1 and 2 Hikotai reside at main base Metabaru. 3 Hikotai was the last unit in the JGSDF to operate the KV-107 and replaced it with the CH-47JA. Co-based at the military side is 8 Hikotai, a unit not part of Seibu Homen Herikoputatai as it is the HQ flight of 8 Shidan.

OH-1 IATH

The large white '828' on the cabin door, the last three of its full serial 41828, is indicating a training aircraft, this one operating with Utsunomiya Kou. It seems this unit is no longer applying its black SU code on the fuselage of the Huey.