ブルーインパルス、能登上空に　１日順延で被災者に元気―空自

　能登半島地震の被災者を元気づけるため、航空自衛隊の曲技チーム「ブルーインパルス」が１８日、能登半島の被災地上空を飛行した。１７日の予定だったが、天候不良で順延されていた。
　北陸新幹線の延伸記念イベントでの飛行予定に合わせて企画された。午後１時すぎに空自小松基地（石川県小松市）を離陸したブルーインパルスは６機編隊を組み、白いスモークをたなびかせながら飛行。約５０分かけ、同県志賀町―輪島市―珠洲市―能登町―穴水町―七尾市の順に上空を一周した。（2024/03/18-15:33）

The Air Self-Defense Force's Blue Impulse aerobatic team flew over earthquake-battered areas on the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture on Monday.
   Taking off from the ASDF's Komatsu base in the central Japan prefecture past 1 p.m., the team's six aircraft spent about 50 minutes flying in formation with white smoke trails over Shika, Wajima, Suzu, Noto, Anamizu and Nanao to cheer up residents still struggling for recovery from damage caused by the massive earthquake on New Year's Day.
   The Blue Impulse's demonstration flight over the peninsula was initially set for Sunday as part of an event celebrating the opening of Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train services between Kanazawa, the capital of Ishikawa, and Tsuruga in neighboring Fukui Prefecture. But it was put off due to bad weather.
   On social media, the flight's videos and comments were posted by many users, including one thanking the team for revitalizing local residents and another saying it was moving to watch people waving to passing planes.
   "The performance brought encouragement to afflicted people," an Ishikawa government official said. "We'd like to thank the Defense Ministry and the SDF."