About 10 AM local time I took off out of RJBB on the run up to Tokyo on ESkyWorld.  Weather was sorta' just OK..... occasional sprinkles during the start up checklist, and just a light cloud cover at 5000.  Broke throught it all by 5500.  Ran the Kitan One SID and then turned north toward Mt. Fuji and Tokyo.



By the time we reached our cruising altitude of 15,000, the weather was really nice.  But the longrange forcast had Tokyo starting to get some thundershowers and gusty winds.



The further north we got, the more the wind was picking up and the hazier the air got.  Yup... that's me in the left seat (my repaint and I put my picture in the pilot's seat  ).

Came in to New Tokyo International Airport airspace on the Venus North STAR as the weather went "south".   Quite a bit of turbulence, and you could hear the thunder in the distance.  



By the time we were on short final, visibility was down pretty low and the crosswind was gusting at 22 knots.  Came close to not having the runway environment at decision height... but the lights just peeped through.  I could see the golfers heading for cover on the course below.



It tokk a lot of crabbing and kicking it sideways to keep it lined up anywhere near well.  The passengers weren't too happy in the back.  I had my hand poised over the throttles for a last second go around.....



Finally got it back on the centerline and flying pretty straight ... but a bit of a downdraft got me a bit low.  Finally got the wheels on the deck .... a tad hard... but not TOO bad.

As I was taxiing to the gates.... the thunderstorm started.




Whew.  

Now off to the Asakusa section to check into the Asakusa Shigetsu Ryokan for a nice long hot soak in the ofuro to get the kinks out of my neck.  Then dinner at a nice sushi place I know near the Kannon temple district.

Then it'll be back to Kansai tomorrow.

best,

....................john

Wonderful John! Small question...why the Differential Brakes in mid-air? ???