Redskin301
Active Member
Konaya Air Station is the largest naval air station of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force in the south of the country. The elementary pilot school for helicopter pilots is also based at this airbase. For the basic task, the 211th Educational Air Corps has the Airbus TH-135. The first helicopter of this type was delivered to the JMSDF in December 2009. The unit received a total of fifteen of these helicopters for the training task. The backbone of the Japanese maritime helicopter fleet is the Mitsubishi SH-60 Seahawk. From the beginning of the 1990s, this type entered service with the Japanese navy and since that time it is the backbone of the navy. The SH-60 Seahawk quickly turned out to be an excellent helicopter that can be used in many ways. Also at Kanoya pilots are trained to flies these helicopters in the Japanese navy One of the most characteristic patrol aircraft of the Japanese navy is the Lockheed P-3C Orion. This patrol aircraft plays an important role in the navy in protecting Japanese waters against intruders such as ships and submarines. The Orion has been the backbone of the patrol fleet for years and is quickly being replaced. At Kanoya is Patron 1 or VP-1 based which is one of the Japanese patrol units. The P-3C Orion patrol aircraft will be replaced soon by the newer Kawasaki P-1 for patrol duties.