Hello, this is Ogouchi.
Thank you for your continued support of TCGAKKI.
I apologize for bringing up a personal matter, but a little while ago, in June, I went on a 9-day trip to the UK and France. It was a solo trip.
Actually, I enjoy taking aerial photography as a hobby; usually, I shoot mainly around Haneda, and occasionally attend air shows in various locations.
Last year, as the COVID-19 pandemic began to subside, I took a long-awaited trip to visit three of Europe’s four major airports—Heathrow in the UK, Schiphol in the Netherlands, and Frankfurt in Germany—and had a wonderful time. So this time, I decided to revisit the UK, which left a particularly strong impression on me, and visit Charles de Gaulle in France—the only one of the four major European airports I hadn’t been to yet.I happened to learn that the world’s largest air show, the Paris Air Show, was being held at Le Bourget Airport near Paris for the first time in four years since the pandemic, so I planned my trip around that event.
First, I flew from Haneda to London (a flight of about 14.5 hours) and spent three nights there, taking photos around Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Since I’m also a fan of trains, I chose the Eurostar (high-speed rail) to travel to France. I entered Paris via the Channel Tunnel (a journey of about 2.5 hours) and stayed for four nights—including the two days of the air show—before returning home.
I got in touch with Gilbert, a Dutch friend I’d met on social media last year and met in person for the first time in Amsterdam, where we took photos together. He decided to drive from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to Paris, and we were able to reunite at the air show venue.
We promised to meet up in Japan next time.
Below is my travel album.
I’d be happy if you’d take a look.
[Day 1]
Heathrow Airport
I stayed in a Runway View Room recommended by a British aviation friend, and enjoyed 24-hour airplane watching!!
I was even able to take photos right from my room window!
[Day 2]
Heathrow Airport
A beautiful blue sky♪
We were blessed with great weather throughout the entire trip 😀
British aviation fans were leisurely taking photos of and gazing at the planes.
I love this atmosphere.
It’s truly impressive to see planes descending right up close!
A British Airways A380.
Britain’s flag carrier 💃🇬🇧 Queen of Hearts
Virgin Atlantic, which isn’t currently flying to Japan.
The stylish ITA Airways 🎵
I managed to capture the monogram pattern on the tail fin! 😃/
At the ranch on Myrtle Avenue.
Planes land almost every minute, but the little donkey doesn’t seem to mind at all ☺️
[Day 3]
Gatwick Airport
On this day, I took an express bus (coach) from Heathrow Airport to Gatwick Airport, which is about 50 km away.
Unlike Heathrow, this airport is surrounded by greenery, giving it a slightly more peaceful atmosphere.
A TUI Airways flight between Thessaloniki-Macedonia International Airport in Greece 🇬🇷 and London Gatwick Airport.
The local bus is, of course, a double-decker!
[Day 4]
LONDON to PARIS
I boarded the Eurostar bound for Paris from St. Pancras Station in London.
Since it’s an international train, the immigration procedures are just as strict as at the airport.
The waiting area below the platform was packed with people heading to destinations like France and the Netherlands.
It connects London and Paris in 2 hours and 15 minutes at a top speed of 300 km/h.
It feels like a blink of an eye, but the one-hour time difference between London and Paris makes things a bit confusing.
I also took the Eurostar last year when traveling from Amsterdam to Frankfurt—crossing borders by train is something unique to continental Europe.
This is in front of Gare du Nord in Paris.
It’s beautiful, but I also sensed a slightly dangerous vibe.
The streets at dusk—it really feels like a foreign country.
[Day 5]
Paris Air Show
The Paris Air Show is an international trade fair for the aerospace industry held in Paris every two years; it is the largest of its kind in the world.
I took a train and then a shuttle bus to Le Bourget Airport, just outside Paris, to get to the venue.
What a huge crowd! And it was scorching hot!!
The French Air Force 🇫🇷 aerobatics team, “Patrouille de France,”
Their performance was absolutely spectacular.
The sonic boom was intense‼️ USAF🇺🇸 F-35A aerobatic flight.
In addition to the U.S. Air Force, fighters from the Belgian and Spanish Air Forces also participated, making for a truly international show.
The USAF F-35A’s aerobatic display and an American Airlines B787 🇺🇸×🇺🇸 taking off from Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG)
The excitement is just like at Japanese air shows—French aviation fans are just as passionate!
The Spanish Air Force’s 🇪🇸 Eurofighter Typhoon roared past at ultra-low altitude!
I snapped a quick photo on my way to the venue exit 😓
The venue is vast, and there are many aircraft on display that are actually in flight.
[Day 6]
Paris Air Show
Reunited with Gilbert
Canard + delta wings are a hallmark of European fighter jets!
The French Air Force’s Dassault Rafale 😎
When I swing my camera lens around like that, I get dizzy and my arms start to shake.
A demonstration flight by the Airbus A321XLR—even passenger planes really put on a show at air shows!
Who is this weird Japanese guy?
The French Air Force’s Dassault Rafale fighter jet with its lovely tricolor canard wings 😎
The French Air Force’s 🇫🇷 aerobatic team, “Patrouille de France”
They were a huge hit again today!
USAF🇺🇸 F-35A high-rate climb!
The Belgian Air Force’s F-16AM🐍—That’s intense!
Water being sprayed from a fire truck!! Everyone was soaked but absolutely thrilled 😀♪
Video of the air show filmed by Gilbert. (Video by Gilbert)
I went to see the Concorde!
✈️#001 F-WTSS Prototype
✈️#213 F-BTSD Mass Production Unit No. 13
[Day 7]
A stroll through Paris
I had planned to photograph airplanes at Charles de Gaulle Airport that day, but unfortunately, I had completely exhausted myself at the air show.
So, starting in the afternoon, I decided to go sightseeing in Paris—something that wasn’t on my original itinerary.
I’m taller than the Eiffel Tower!
I was soothed by the singing of a street musician at Trocadéro Square.
The Seine River
LV DREAM
At the Arc de Triomphe.
[Day 8]
Back to Japan
Carrying my heavy luggage, I’m heading home now.
From the window of my flight back, which took off from Charles de Gaulle Airport, I could see Le Bourget Airport, the venue for the Paris Air Show♪
That wraps up my vacation.
Thank you for reading all the way to the end.
Sorry for posting so many photos😅
After all, I took over 38,000 photos💦 Ogouchi