YVRSR From Canada, joined Jul 2005, 96 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 years 10 months 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 5552 times:
I drove past YVR last night and today (July 12th) and noticed two parked 747-400 airplanes. I barely made out the lettering on the planes, but I believe that they are Government of Japan planes, used for the visit to BC of the Emperor and Empress of Japan.
Questions:
(1) Are these indeed Governement of Japan planes used for government officials or are they for the exclusive use of the Japanese Royal Family?
(2) Why are there 2 planes? Do the Emperor and Empress always travel with 2 planes?
Perhaps one of our Japanese friends (or any A-netters for that matter) can shed some light on this.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21481 posts, RR: 24 Reply 1, posted (3 years 10 months 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 5504 times:
Quoting YVRSR (Thread starter): (1) Are these indeed Governement of Japan planes used for government officials or are they for the exclusive use of the Japanese Royal Family?
(2) Why are there 2 planes? Do the Emperor and Empress always travel with 2 planes?
They are used for official government travel, not just by the Royal Family. I believe they can also be converted to carry military personnel on overseas missions and for emergency evacuation of Japanese citizens during emergencies/disasters etc.
Photo of the former Japanese prime minister arriving for an official visit to the U.S. a few years ago.
They probably have two for the same reason that there are two USAF 747-200s used as Air Force One. I have seen both Japanese government 744s in GVA on various official visits a couple of times.
Stitch From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 26700 posts, RR: 83 Reply 2, posted (3 years 10 months 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 5435 times:
So if the two 744s are in YVR, I take it the Prime Minister and his entourage flew commercial to Rome for the recent G8 Summit in L'Aquila?
Or were they able to get back to Japan time for the Imperial Family to use them to travel to Canada?
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21481 posts, RR: 24 Reply 3, posted (3 years 10 months 2 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 5400 times:
Quoting Stitch (Reply 2): So if the two 744s are in YVR, I take it the Prime Minister and his entourage flew commercial to Rome for the recent G8 Summit in L'Aquila?
Or were they able to get back to Japan time for the Imperial Family to use them to travel to Canada?
Looks like he used a chartered JAL aircraft, based on the caption to the photo below on his arrival home, with JAL logo behind him and the woman wearing a JAL uniform, and the fact that his flight landed at HND, not NRT.
Photo caption reads:
Japan’s Prime Minister Taro Aso arrives at Haneda Airport in Tokyo Saturday evening, July 11, 2009 as he returns home after attending the Group of Eight summit talks in Italy. Aso faces a crucial test in a Tokyo municipal election Sunday, seen as a bellwether for a coming national vote in which the ruling party risks losing power after governing for virtually all the past 50 years.
Dlowwa From Canada, joined Apr 2005, 7238 posts, RR: 32 Reply 5, posted (3 years 10 months 2 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 5200 times:
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I've heard it's one for the royal family, and one for their entourage. They left them (the 747s) in YVR over the weekend and took a chartered AC 767 over to Victoria/YYJ (like a fifteen minute flight). Ah, the trappings of being royalty...
I got a shot of them touching down in YVR, and then another as they had both flags out as they taxied back to the north AC hangar for the official reception.
Ha763 From United States of America, joined Jan 2003, 3492 posts, RR: 6 Reply 6, posted (3 years 10 months 2 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 5151 times:
Both aircraft are used when they are used to transport high ranking government officials and the Royal family. You can see in the photo database pictures of both aircraft (20-1101 and 20-1102) almost always taken on the same day in the same place.
ZBBYLW From Canada, joined Nov 2006, 1923 posts, RR: 7 Reply 8, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 4609 times:
Quoting Dlowwa (Reply 5): AC 767 over to Victoria/YYJ
Wow! I guess they had to downsize a bit! Back when the Commonwealth games where in YYJ, AC flew the 744 between YVR and YYJ. I am curious why they did not take their 744 as the runways are really long (esp considering how little fuel they would need - a bit over an hour with reserves). Oh well maybe it was to show good will.
YYZYYT From Canada, joined Apr 2005, 852 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 4498 times:
Quoting Dlowwa (Reply 5): I got a shot of them touching down in YVR, and then another as they had both flags out as they taxied back to the north AC hangar for the official reception.
Now, how on earth do they deploy those flags between touch down and taxi in to the reception area?
CB97 From Canada, joined Mar 2008, 90 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 4453 times:
Quoting YYZYYT (Reply 9): Now, how on earth do they deploy those flags between touch down and taxi in to the reception area?
There is a tiny hatch on the left side of the a/c right next to the flag anchors. Someone will open the hatch and simply reach up and stick the flags in place. I'm not sure if it's a standard escape hatch or if it's a custom addition for diplomatic a/c...
Dlowwa From Canada, joined Apr 2005, 7238 posts, RR: 32 Reply 11, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 4425 times:
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Quoting CB97 (Reply 10): There is a tiny hatch on the left side of the a/c right next to the flag anchors. Someone will open the hatch and simply reach up and stick the flags in place. I'm not sure if it's a standard escape hatch or if it's a custom addition for diplomatic a/c...
Interesting... they had them up pretty much right after vacating the runway on to the taxiway.. I guess it's something they do often on these friendship flights, so they must have some practice at doing it quickly...
Diamond From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 3279 posts, RR: 66 Reply 12, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 4414 times:
Quoting CB97 (Reply 10): I'm not sure if it's a standard escape hatch or if it's a custom addition for diplomatic a/c...
I think it's been pretty standard on 747s since the prototype flew.
Marcus From Mexico, joined Apr 2001, 1721 posts, RR: 2 Reply 13, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 4384 times:
Does anyone know why there are fewer windows on the upper deck of this 744?....were these built specifically for the Japanese Government ordered with these many windows?
Kids!....we are going to the happiest place on earth...TIJUANA! signed: Krusty the Clown
PC12Fan From United States of America, joined Jan 2007, 2236 posts, RR: 5 Reply 15, posted (3 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 4016 times:
Aww, why did their government get -400's and we didn't?!
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