Two aircraft approach from opposite directions along the runway, crossing each other upside down in a perfectly timed maneuver.
This photograph captures that exact moment.
At the time, I tracked aircraft No.5 through the viewfinder with my right eye, while keeping aircraft No.6 in sight with my left eye.
Unlike today, continuous shooting required a motor drive. Shooting extensively on film meant money would literally “fly away” with every frame, so timing had to be precise.
This scene was captured on August 16, 1986, during the Chitose Air Base Air Festival in Japan.
Since it was shot on film, I had to wait for development and printing at a photo lab. The anticipation before seeing the result was always long.
I had driven seven hours from Nemuro Air Base to Chitose. Failing to capture the shot after such a trip was simply not an option.
Perhaps that determination transferred to both the Blue Impulse team and my camera — allowing this moment to be preserved.
At the time, my equipment was a Canon A-1 with a 300mm f/5.6 lens, a fairly standard setup.
Today, I use a Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a 100–400mm zoom lens for aviation photography.
However, I believe that even with modern continuous shooting, capturing this exact moment again would be extremely difficult.
