Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) has been sending student pilots to the Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Wing for the F-16 B-course for the past five-years. Now, the final two students have completed their training at Tucson International Airport.
First Lts. Toshiaki Kawanishi and Fumita Sakyu walk out to an F-16 Fighting Falcon at the Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Wing located at Tucson International Airport prior to a day of training. As Japan prepares to mark five years since a massive earthquake triggered a tsunami that devastated its northeast coast, these two Japanese students have completed their F-16 pilot training here. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by 2nd Lt. Lacey Roberts)
Japan started sending students to Tucson after the 2011 earthquake left the JASDF with a shortfall of F-2Bs. The F-16 B-course was modified to meet JASDF’s requirements as the F-2 is slightly different from the F-16.
First Lt. Fumita Sakyu does a final inspection of his F-16 Fighting Falcon prior to taking off for a training sortie at the Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Wing located at Tucson International Airport. Japan turned to the premier training program here after a massive earthquake triggered a tsunami that devastated its northeast coast. Although there are no F-16s in the Japanese inventory, their multi-role F-2 is based on the F-16 design, with modifications to meet the needs of the JASDF. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by 2nd Lt. Lacey Roberts)First Lt. Toshiaki Kawanishi climbs up into the cockpit of an F-16 Fighting Falcon during his pilot training at the Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Wing located at Tucson International Airport. “We cannot accomplish the mission with only one country,” said Kawanishi. “This is a good opportunity to learn about other nationalities and personalities, and to be able to apply that to the mission in the future.” (U.S. Air National Guard photo by 2nd Lt. Lacey Roberts)
