Something a little different this week. Thanks to the 1-300 channel (whom we’ve seen here before with some of their amazing JASDF Phantom videos) for some characteristically gorgeous shots of an aircraft that gets very little attention: The Kawasaki C-1 medium transport.
Roughly analogous in role to the C-123 Provider or C-27 Spartan, though with a smaller cargo capacity, the C-1 serves as Japan’s primary short/medium range transport alongside the C-130H, at least until both are eventually replaced by the Kawasaki C-2. With the gradual worldwide retirement of the MD-88/MD-90 series of jets, the C-1s may well be the last significant fleet operator of the old straight-pipe JT8D engines. The most obvious unique external feature is the big hump ahead of the main wing spar, which I can’t seem to find any particularly good explanations for in searching.
Honestly, other than the fact that whomever runs the 1-300 channel has a really good eye for shooting video, the main reason this C-1 video caught my eye in the first place is because I’ve been watching an anime on Netflix with The Queen, called Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan. (Review coming in the next few weeks.) The connection being that in the show, the dragons are all generally camouflaged as various aircraft used by the JASDF. There’s an F-15, an F-2, an E-2C, and a C-1.
Anyway, it’s an interesting bit of convergence, especially since The Queen and I just finished watching the penultimate episode. Now, for folks who just want some more of that sweet JT8D action, here’s another version of the first video, minus the music.