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katsuhiko "Katsu" Tokunaga
in Belgium
Text : Serge Van Heertum
Pictures : "Katsu", Serge Van Heertum & an Italian friend...
Thanks to Sven Lodewijckx and Edith Timmermans, some aviation photographers and aviation fans had the opportunity and privilege to meet Katsuhiko Tokunaga, the world top air to air photographer. This was for our SBAP team a great moment being able meet this sympathic and humble personality of the aviation world.
The evening started with a presentation of pictures made by "Uli" Metternich, a retired Luftwaffe Tornado navigator. This was the warming up with some pleasant air to air shots from Tornado and other international Air Force jets.
Followed by the presentation of Mister Tokunaga divided in two parts. First an overview regarding himself and the professional aspects of his job with a question an answer moment for the people present. The second part was a selection of his best shots...great great great...there are no other words !
Who is "Katsu"?
Katsuhiko "Katsu"
Tokunaga was
born
in
1957.
He is certainly the most popular
aviation
photographer, specialized in
air-to-air photography
of military jets and civil aircraft as well.
Tokunaga started his career in the backseat of a
United States Air Force
T-33A Shooting Star
in 1978. To date he has flown
more than 50
different
fast jets in some 50 countries, logging 1400 flight hours
in his logbook. He is working for the most important aircraft manufacturers like
Dassault, Lockheed-Martin, MIG, Sukhoi, Eurofighter, Embraer, Pilatus and much
more. He flew
and photographed
many display teams all over the world. The
list is really impressive :
Royal Air Force
"Red
Arrows",
Japanese "Blue
Impulse",
Canadian "Snowbirds",
Croatian "Wings
of Storm",
Chilean Air Force
"Halcones",
French Air
Force "Patrouille
de France",
Aeronautica
Militare Italiana "Frecce
Tricolori",
Portuguese
Air Force "Asas
de Portugal",
Slovak "Biele
Albatrosys",
Spanish "Patrulla
Aguila",
Swedish "Team
60",
Swiss Air
Force "Patrouille
Suisse"
and "PC-7
Team",
United States Air Force
"Thunderbirds",
United States Navy
"Blue
Angels"
and lately
with the
Yugoslavian
"Letece
Zvesdes".
His work and
certainly the most wonderfull aviation pictures are published in different books
or magazine like Air Force Monthly, Code One magazine and many others.
Book
references : "Smoke
Trails":
The last of the F-4 Phantoms,
"Super
Blue", "Top
Teams", "Patrouille
Suisse", "Frecce Tricolori" and recently "Silver Wings" about the Croatian Air
Force. These are books you certainly need on you bookshelve...
Sbap team would like to thank Sven, Edith, "Uli" and "Katsu" for this memorable and unforgettable evening.
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| "The" world air to air photographer : "Katsu" | A great moment in the life of SBAP team |