Due to heavy traffic in the circuit, JASDF F-4EJ Kai Phantom II from 302 Hikotai trails its drag chute as it lands back on the civilian runway at Ibaraki Airport. The photo was taken on 4th April 2012 during heightened tensions with North Korea caused by their ballistic missile tests. Consequently, the adjoining Hyakuri Air Base was on high-alert with intensive operations including night ops.
Japan´s prime minister Shinzo Abe arrived for his official visit of Slovakia and meeting with V4 prime ministers with two B777-300s of Japan Air Self-Defence Force, unfortunately not to Bratislava but to Vienna...
