Have you ever heard of Hamamatsu Public Relations Center Air Park, which is nicknamed “Air Park” and is crowded with visitors from all over the country?

Admission is free, and the facility is filled with a variety of content, including watching powerful videos in the all-sky theater and experiencing flight in a fighter jet simulator!

This time, we will take a closer look at the charm of the air park, which can be enjoyed not only on sunny days, but also on rainy days and days with strong winds in Enshu!

What kind of place is an air park?

*F-86F with Blue Impulse specifications

Approximately 5.2 kilometers north-northwest from JR Hamamatsu Station.

“Hamamatsu Public Relations Center Air Park” (nicknamed “Air Park”), which is popular among fans of aircraft and fighter jets, has been renovated in the spring of 2021 and some of the exhibits have been replaced, making it an even more spectacular spot. .

Inside the facility, there is a wealth of content, including displays of historical fighter planes, search and rescue planes, transport planes, as well as equipment such as missiles, an all-sky theater where you can enjoy powerful images, and a simple Blue Impulse simulator.

When you arrive, let’s take a commemorative photo in front of the Blue Impulse F-86F!

The buildings in the air park are divided into the “Exhibition Museum,” “All-round Theater,” and “Exhibition Hangar.” The museum and theater are the buildings on the left, and the building on the right (behind F-86F) is the hangar.

Although there are some exhibits outdoors, the main exhibits are indoors, so you can enjoy it regardless of the weather.

*Exhibition Museum 1F, looking from the west side (windows) to the east side (entrance/exit)  When you enter the museum, the left and right sides will look reversed from this image.

The exhibition museum is built on three floors, and as you walk around it, you can learn about the missions and activities of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, the mechanisms of fighter jets, crew equipment, aircraft-mounted weapons, and more.

In addition to viewing the exhibits, you can also try out a simple simulator.

The All-Sky Theater is popular for its powerful images taken from an altitude of 20,000 feet, and screening times are fixed and admission tickets are required.

Therefore, if you want to see it, please get a numbered ticket distributed at the reception desk on the 1st floor of the exhibition museum.

We recommend checking the official website for screening times and content in advance.

Official website of the Air Self-Defense Force Hamamatsu Public Information Center Air Park (external  Japanese link)

https://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/airpark/

I have visited the museum twice in the past, but this is my first time since it was renovated, so I was excited even before I entered.

*Top left: 6-screen multi-image, Top right: Mock-up (actual size model) of the F-2 in the paint of the mass-produced aircraft at the time of renewal, Bottom left and

On the 1st floor of the exhibition museum, there are exhibits introducing the missions and activities of the Air Self-Defense Force, as well as the mechanisms of fighter aircraft.

Immediately after entering the reception area, we were greeted by a welcome video displayed on six monitors, which did not exist before the renovation.

Eh… suddenly a change point appears! ?

I was surprised to find that many of the exhibit introductions had changed from text and photo panel displays to video exhibits.

Additionally, you can see job descriptions on four monitors, and introductions to the Air Force on three monitors.

The movement and sound will draw you in, and you’ll probably end up immersing yourself in the video.

*Upper left: F-1 support fighter, upper right: cockpit, lower left: computer electronics room, lower right: engine, etc.

The F-1 support fighter remained unchanged.

Although you won’t be able to sit in the cockpit, you can take a closer look at the computer electronics room.

The fighter’s mechanism and cut engine had the same appearance as before.

The entrance to the All-Sky Theater and exhibits of aircraft models and personal belongings are on the 2nd floor!

*2F exhibits

On display on the second floor are models of aircraft that have been active since the establishment of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, which will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2024, as well as items carried by its crew members.

The entrance to Zentenshū Theater is also on this floor.

*Top left: E-767 Unit 1 (Unit 501), Top right: Surface-to-air guided missile Patriot (PAC-3), Bottom left: Ground weapon, Bottom right: Replica of Zvanine (SVA9)

*Salute to the crew!

The aircraft models on display are not only those currently in use.

There are also models of retired fighter planes and transport planes, and they are lined up in order from oldest to newest from the front.

By the way, some people may be wondering, “The explanation panel says F-104J and T-4, but what do the “F” and “T” mean?

This is an acronym for T for Training, C for Cargo, F for Fighter, and U for Utility.

The E in E-767 stands for Electronic, which refers to early warning and control aircraft (AWACS). An easy way to tell it apart from a jumbo jet is to see if it has a plate-like radar on its roof.

If you see a jumbo jet flying over Hamamatsu city, be sure to check it out.

In addition, ground weapons include the 1/1 scale Patriot (PAC-3) surface-to-air guided missile, the Stinger (portable surface-to-air missile carried by a human), and the Zvanine (SVA9), a fighter aircraft created in Italy over 100 years ago. ) as well as replicas.

*Audience seats in the All-Sky Theater (from front to back) *Photographed inside the All-Sky Theater with permission.

If you want to enjoy the view from the dome-shaped theater at an altitude of 20,000 feet (approximately 6,100 meters), go to the All-Sky Theater.

As mentioned above, you will need an admission ticket to view this.

Tickets will be distributed at the reception on the 1st floor, for the first 120 people at each screening (seating capacity). Reservations are not required, so please get a numbered ticket before entering the museum.

The size of the dome is 15 meters. The image is projected in a flowing manner from the rear to the front.

Therefore, if you sit in the front seat and try to watch the video from the rear, your neck may hurt! ?

*Audience seats in the All-Sky Theater (from the back to the front) *Photographs taken within the All-Sky Theater with permission.

The screening content changes depending on the period, and one of five programs is screened.

The program includes dynamic demonstration flight scenes of fighter jet units and Blue Impulse, and activities of transport units active in times of disaster.

Please take a look at the powerful images of the Air Self-Defense Force’s missions!

*Wheelchair seats available (2 seats at the back)

A tour of the former government aircraft and a simple Blue Impulse simulator are available on the 3rd floor.

*Left: Eat-in corner, Right: Simple simulator experience corner

On the 3rd floor, which is also the exit of the All-Sky Theater, you can experience a simple simulator and tour the guest room and press conference seats of a former government aircraft (B747-400).

You can also use the eat-in corner, so if you bring your own lunch, you can enjoy the tour at your leisure (please take your trash home with you).

The cafe corner (Café FUJI) is on the right side from the eat-in corner.

*Simple simulation

There are three types of flight courses that you can experience with the simple simulator: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

Operate the aircraft as a member of the T-4 Blue Impulse.

The operating instructions, such as how to move the trigger, are posted on the left and right sides of the monitor, so even beginners can enjoy it.

*Former government plane press conference seat

The former government aircraft (B747-400) on display at the air park was actually operated from 1992 (Heisei 4) to 2019 (Heisei 31).

Just looking at the chairs and tables on display made my heart flutter, wondering if they were actually used at the press conference.

The only things on display at the air park are the press conference seats and the guest room, but the monitor next to it showed what was going on inside the plane.

*The guest room of the former government plane

The guest cabin of the former government plane is next to the press conference seats.

The guest room is located at the front of the government plane, and inside is equipped with an office desk, a table for meetings, a sofa, and a bed.

On the desk is a satellite phone that can be used to make calls even during navigation.

It's not just an exhibition! Exhibition hangar with lots of fun experiences.

*Exhibition hangar seen from the passageway connecting to the museum

At the air park, you do not have to see all the exhibits within the facility. “I don’t have much time today, so I’ll just hang out at the exhibition hangar” is of course OK.

You can enter the exhibition hangar directly from outside or by crossing the passageway from the 2nd floor of the exhibition museum.

The image above is the view after crossing the passageway from the 2nd floor of the exhibition museum.

yeah? Compared to before the renewal, there are fewer yellow aircraft…?

*From the exhibition hangar 1F entrance

This is what it looks like when you enter from outside. There are rescue and search planes and fighter planes in front of you!

In addition, various experiences are possible in the exhibition hangar.

For example, you can experience riding in the cockpit of a fighter jet, experiencing a flight simulator, wearing a flight suit, and after the renovation, you can also experience Blue Impulse VR.

All usage fees you may be concerned about are free!

*Flight suits are available for heights of 100 to 185 cm.

*Top left: The size of flight shoes is 24.0 to 28.0 cm (socks required) Right: I’m happy that flight suits are OK for children who can stand and walk.

If you would like to try on a flight suit, please go to the factory reception in the exhibition hangar.

Flight suits, flight boots, and helmets can be rented for 15 minutes and can only be used in the 1st floor of the exhibition hangar.

Not only can you rent it and wear it, but you can even sit in the cockpit of a fighter jet while wearing it.

*flight simulator

The flight simulator has a reputation as “You can experience flying an F-1 fighter jet!”

There are three types of trial courses: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

There is also aerial combat in the advanced course!

*Inside the simulator is a T-2 specification that is close to the real thing.

The structure inside the simulator is quite simple, but the seats and parts are T-2 specifications that are close to the real thing, so there are some similarities.

*Take off while looking at the monitor in front!

Once you sit in the cockpit, you can begin your piloting experience while looking at the monitor in front of you.

Some people practice on the simple simulator on the 3rd floor of the exhibition museum before attempting the challenge.

For more information about wearing a flight suit and flight simulator experience, please visit the official website.

Official website of the Air Self-Defense Force Hamamatsu Public Information Center Air Park (external japanese link)

[https://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/airpark/]

*Top left: Blue Impulse VR experience corner, Top right: Blue Impulse panels on the wall, Bottom left: VR experience goggles, Bottom right: The landmark is Blue Impulse

After the renewal, you can now experience Blue Impulse VR.

7 people can watch for VR at the same time. You can wear trial goggles and enjoy the scenery seen from the cockpit of the Blue Impulse.

There are a total of 5 videos that can be viewed. 1 is Hamamatsu base, 2-5 are Matsushima base.

If you live in Hamamatsu City, you might be able to see some familiar scenery! ?

There will also be an introduction to performances such as low-angle Cuban take-off and 4-point roll. Corkscrew and Dead Cross are flights from Matsushima Air Base.

Ah~. It was cool…! !

Let's sit in the cockpit of a fighter jet!

*Exhibition hangar 1F (F-86D in the center)

If you want to experience riding in the cockpit, go directly to the fighter jet you want to ride.

However, please note that you will not be able to ride in the F-4.

*T-4 (The landmark is “745” on the aircraft)

The three aircraft (F-86F, T-2, and T-4) lined up on the left as you enter the exhibition hangar were all active as Blue Impulse.

The T-4, currently the third generation Blue Impulse model, is located at the very back of the exhibition hangar.

Isn’t it exciting to be able to ride the coveted Blue Impulse, even though it’s on display in a hangar?

*T-4 cockpit

The T-4 has a crew of two. However, you can only experience boarding in the front seat.

The interior is surprisingly deep and has a high sitting height and wide legroom, so you and your child can enjoy it together.

Please follow the instructions of the staff during each experience.

*T-4 (front) and F-104J (back) engines

There is also a display of fighter jet engines in the exhibition hangar.

*F-1 No. 227

Inside the exhibition hangar, the four bodies in the center row are lined up in order from the front: F-86D, F-104J, F-1, and F-4.

The landmark of the F-1 fighter jet is the large letter “227” written on the fuselage. This aircraft is Japan’s first supersonic support fighter aircraft equipped with a domestically produced radar fire control system and air-to-ship missiles.

The F-4 displayed in the back is the last F-4 produced in the world.

Both are valuable instruments.

*F-104J engine

There is an exhibition of the engines installed on each aircraft.

There are also explanatory panels for all the fighter jets and aircraft on display.

You can enjoy the tour even more by comparing the sizes of the engines and looking at the explanation panels.

*F-104J seen from the rear

The image above is the F-104J seen from the rear.

When I first saw an augmentor (a device that temporarily increases engine thrust), I was overwhelmed by its size.

Rescue helicopter V-107A

The rescue helicopter V-107A, which was displayed in the center row before the renovation, has been moved to the back near the entrance.

Similar models have been dispatched to search and rescue operations in many areas, including the 2004 Chuetsu Earthquake. It has saved many lives.

You can see the inside of the museum through a guard, so please take a look.

The MU-2 in front of the entrance is a search and rescue aircraft.

There are also exhibits outdoors! For souvenirs, go to the shop

In addition to indoor exhibits, the air park also has an outdoor exhibit area where you can see large aircraft, missile launchers, and more.

*Launcher (missile launcher)

The image above is the launcher of the Nike J surface-to-air guided missile system that preceded the Patriot.

You might be surprised at its size! ?

*Painting work in progress from February 2, 2024 (Friday) to mid-March

Also on display are the C-46 transport aircraft and the H-21 rescue helicopter.

The H-21 is an operational aircraft from the 1960s, and its appearance is somewhat reminiscent of a banana.

One section of the outside exhibition area is a rest area.

In addition to vending machines and benches, there are play equipment for children here.

On the benches right next to the outer fence of Hamamatsu Base, there are people watching and taking pictures of aircraft passing by.

If you want to buy a souvenir after touring the museum, please visit the shop located in front of the reception desk on the 1st floor of the museum.

We have goods from not only Hamamatsu base, but other bases as well as Hamamatsu souvenirs.

Among them, Fool Sec and Canned Fried Chicken from the Air Self-Defense Force are Air Park originals! Of course, there are also Blue Impulse related goods!

Official website of the Air Self-Defense Force Hamamatsu Public Information Center Air Park (external japanese link)

https://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/airpark/

The average time it takes to visit the air park is about 1 to 2 hours.

However, if you take a closer look at the exhibits and experience the content, it will take a little longer.

Some people seem to enjoy it while taking a break at the cafe corner or eat-in corner on the 3rd floor.

Feel the romance of the sky at the Air Self-Defense Force Hamamatsu Public Information Center “Air Park.”