We are pleased to announce the details of the Air Self-Defense Force Blue Impulse display flight, which will take place on Thursday, 21 November, the first day of the FIA World Rally Championship ‘FORUM8 Rally Japan 2024’.
At Toyota Stadium, where some of the rally stages will be held, visitors can enjoy watching the display flights while listening to commentary by Blue Impulse pilots, and before the display flights, there will be a talk show and autograph session with the pilots. There will also be limited edition Air Self-Defense Force and FORUM8 Rally Japan 2024 collaboration goods on sale at the venue.
In addition, to further boost the excitement of the event and to commemorate the Blue Impulse’s exhibition flight, a collaborative video has been released in which Takamoto Katsuta, the only Japanese driver to compete in the top category of the WRC, and Kosuke Tsurugo, a pilot from Toyota City, get a taste of each other’s machines.
Prior to the opening of FORUM8 Rally Japan 2024, Blue Impulse will perform an exhibition flight (air show) over the centre of Toyota City. This is a rare opportunity to see the world’s most prestigious rally competition and Blue Impulse’s spectacular flight on the same day.
| Date: | Thursday, 21 November 2024 |
| Flight time: | From around 14:00 for about 25 minutes (tentative) *12 performances are planned |
| Exhibition flight area: | Flight from the West Event Square at Toyota Stadium, focusing on the sky to the west (see map below) |
| Flight route: | Komaki Air Base, Japan Air Self-Defense Force → JR Ena Station → Toyota Stadium → Komaki Air Base (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) |
| Viewing Location: | (1) A special viewing area will be set up in the West Event Square of Toyota Stadium for the exhibition flight. Those with spectator tickets for the Toyota Stadium will be able to watch the exhibition flight in the special viewing area while listening to background music and narration by the Blue Impulse pilots. (2) A free viewing area will be set up in Shirahama Park. |
| Notes: | Please note that the flights may be cancelled or rescheduled without notice due to weather or other circumstances. The JR Ena Station portion will fly at around 13:50. However, it will only be a smoke display and will not be a flying display. |
Before the exhibition flight, there will be a talk show and autograph session with two Blue Impulse pilots. You can attend for free if you have a spectator ticket for Toyota Stadium. The autograph session will be open to around 50 people who win a rock-paper-scissors tournament after the talk show.
| Date and Time: | 21 November 2024 (Thu) 11:15–12:15 |
| Venue: | Toyota Stadium West Event Square (7-2 Sengokucho, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture) |
| Pilot: | Flight Commander: Taku Ejiri (No. 1 aircraft), Flight Crew: Shoya Matsuura (No. 3 aircraft) |
Rally Japan and Blue Impulse collaboration goods will be sold exclusively at the Toyota Stadium venue.
| Date and time: | Thursday, 21 November 2024, 11:00 – Sales start Sales will end when stock runs out. If you have a Category 1 spectator ticket, you can use the early entry system (15 minutes before the start of the event) to purchase before they officially go on sale |
| Venue: | Toyota Stadium West Event Square Rally Japan Official Goods Shop (7-2 Sengokucho, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture) |
| Products: | In addition to the six types of collaboration products, we will also be selling Blue Impulse goods. |
To commemorate the Blue Impulse’s exhibition flight, we have created a video collaboration between the Air Self-Defense Force and Rally Japan. The joint performance of the rally drivers and pilots on land and in the air will further enliven the ‘FORUM8 Rally Japan 2024’.
| Appearance: | Rally driver: Takamoto Katsuta (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT) Pilot: Kosuke Tsurugo (Air Self-Defense Force Gifu Base) |
| Content: | A rally driver and a pilot experience each other’s machines (video: 2 min 11 sec) |
| Public release: | Available on the official website and YouTube (https://youtu.be/fyg7-k-TwCY) from 12 noon on Tuesday 5th November |
| Date: | Sunday 17th November 2024, 8:30am – 3:00pm |
| Venue: | Japan Air Self-Defense Force Gifu Base (Naka-ku, Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture) |
| Contents: | Rally car exhibition, collaboration video screening, ticket sales, official merchandise sales, etc. |
