Hobby Master 1/72 HA3902a Japan T-4 Trainer "86-5605" 31st TSQ, 1st AW, JASDF
The Kawasaki T-4 is a subsonic intermediate jet trainer used by the JASDF. In
November 1981 Kawasaki was awarded the contract to produce 220 T-4s with the
actual final production number being 212. The aircraft was designed to replace the
Lockheed T-33 and Fuji T-1. The first prototype flew on July 29, 1985 with the first
production aircraft flying in June 1988 and delivery of the first T-4 to the 31st and 32nd
Flying Training Squadrons, 1st Air Wing 3 months later.
Kawasaki T-4 86-5605 was c/n 1005 and was the first production T-4. The T-4 was
designed as a replacement for the aging Lockheed T-33. In 1988 the first squadron to
receive the new trainers was the 31st Training Squadron (Kikotai) of the 1st Air Wing
(Kokudan) based at the Hamamatsu Air Base. The 31st TSQ is named “Blue Dolphin”
while the second training squadron the 32nd is named “Red Dolphin”. Hamamatsu Air
Base was originally established in 1925. In 1952 it became a flight training school.