I previously wrote about the Flea Market at the Museum of Aeronautical Sciences, which is held at Narita on the first weekend of March and September every year. In the blink of an eye, it was early September, so I made a run for it over the weekend.

The Museum of Aeronautical Sciences opens at 10:00 AM, and I arrived basically at 10:00. However, entering the flea market required queuing for a number; I got number 270. Just look at this long line. Fortunately, reviewing things like the JT8D, the 757 tail, and the DC8 landing gear kept me from getting bored. Later, I saw in the news that the earliest arrivals actually started queuing at 5:00 PM the previous day. I really admire their enthusiasm.

After queuing for 30 minutes, I finally entered the venue. I noticed that quite a few instruments were the same as last year. It’s not surprising they didn’t sell, considering the prices were set too high. After all, the items that sell well here are things like aircraft models, blankets with airline logos, cups, etc. There aren’t that many people like me who are interested in instruments. I saw a couple who bought two aircraft meal carts; NHK even interviewed them. I wonder how much they paid.

This Boeing 727 yoke was 50,000 yen, but its condition wasn't very good. Of course, even if it were in good condition, I couldn't afford it...

I saw others coming out with shopping baskets filled to the brim, checking out with tens of thousands of yen. But I really didn’t have anything I specifically wanted. In the end, I just spent 100 yen on an old book—Explanations of Pilot Theory Exam Questions. Then, remembering that my Osaka area chart was tattered and torn, I spent another 300 yen on an Osaka-Nagoya TCA chart.

Outside the museum, there is an Apron where over a dozen retired aircraft of various types are parked. It’s nice to take a walk and look at the old planes. For example, the cockpit of this YS-11, a product of the 60s, has its instrument panel very well preserved.

Then there was also a Ka-26 helicopter with co-axial counter-rotating rotors. Its shape is very cute, especially the front part which looks just like a bee. It was my first time knowing that a civil Ka-26 could actually be seen in Japan.

I noticed an Aviation Shrine on the outer side of the Apron, another new discovery. I previously introduced Japan’s unique Shinto faith and Aviation Shrines, but I didn’t expect there to be one here.

The museum itself hadn’t changed much compared to last year, so I just had a meal at the restaurant on the rooftop, and then spent a few more hours spotting planes. I’ll share the results when I have time in the future.

The End