TURKISH AIR FORCE RACING WITH ITS ERA Turkey Air Display 2011 Takes Place at Çiğli, Izmir

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Turkey Air Show 2011 commenced with a parachute display by the Turkish Air Force. Soon after this display, the aircrafts in the inventory of the Turkish Air Force passed over saluting the spectators. After the inventory flight, the acroteams and solo display aircrafts flew to the sky one by one.





After the displays by Croatia’s air acroteam “Croatian Wings” and Poland’s acroteam “team Iskra,” the most elite fleet of the United States Air Force, the “Thunderbirds” lighted up the skies over Izmir. The acroteam of the Italian Air Force “Frecce Tricolori“ put on one of the most colorful and the most entertaining air show among the displays. Writing the colors of the Italian flag in the sky they also drew a figure in the shape of a heart drawing extensive applause from the spectators. The acroteam from France “Patrouille de France” painted the sky with the “tricolore” and was one on the acroteams that drew the close attention of the spectators during the displays. After the French display team, the acroteam that was most anxiously awaited, the “Turkish Stars” painted the sky in red and white with 8 supersonic NF-5 jets. The symbol of the Turkish Air Force “Eagle Head” and the “Gold Crescent Star” that symbolizes the value placed on the Turkish nation and the Turkish flag by the Turkish Air Force and the “silver lone star” that represents the ideal of the Turkish Air Force as the star of the 21st century drew attention to the F-16 Solo Turk that took to the skies after the display of the “Turkish Stars.” Team Captain Major Murat Kele? successfully displayed the maneuver capabilities of the F-16 Block 40 jets and the level of training of the Turkish pilots. The RAF Acrobatic Team “Red Arrows,” that have realized over 4,000 air displays since 1965, shared their abilities with the Turkish spectators. The acrobatic team of Spain “Patrulla Aquila“were one of the display teams that bought color to the air show with their Casa C-101 Aviojet aircraft.





Within the coverage of the 100th anniversary celebrations, historical airplanes also undertook display flights. In addition to this, painting and photo exhibits on the subject of aviation were exhibited. Military bands and a “Mehter” concert were presented for the enjoyment of the visitors.


TURKISH AIR FORCE PUTS ON A SHOW OF FORCE





The activities to mark the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Air Force were not limited to air acrobatic teams and solo flight displays. Racing its era, the Turkish Air Force in addition displayed all aircraft, helicopters and satellite systems that are in are about to enter its inventory at the Turkey air show. The F-16, F-4E, F-4 2020, RF-4 and the NF-5 combat aircrafts; the training aircrafts T-37, T-41, SF-260 and KT-1 and the C-130, C-160 and CN-235 transport planes, the tanker airplane KC-135 and the Cougar and UH-1 helicopters as well as the AEW&C aircraft “Peace Eagle,” TAI’s indigenous unmanned airborne vehicle ANKA, the training airplane HÜRKU? who’s design belongs to Turkish engineers; the national satellite GÖKTÜRK 1-2 together with the mock up of the MTU/JSF were displayed to visitors at the exhibit area.





THE A-400M IS AT Ç??L?, IZMIR





Europe’s largest transport aircraft jointly produced by Germany, Belgium, France, U.K., Spain and Turkey, the A-400M came to Turkey for a day in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Air Force and was put on display at the static area for the first time.





Designed to meet the needs of the world air forces in the 21st century, the A-400M is able to easily land on short, soft or unprepared runways thanks to advanced technology and can fly at further distances much more rapidly. The A-400M can carry out tactical and strategic/logistic assignments as well. In particular, designed to carry very large cargo, the cargo section can directly transport many military as well as civilian materials to the points required.





In line with the requirements of the Turkish Air Force, Turkey will purchase ten A-400Ms. The first aircraft will enter the Turkish Air Forces’ inventory in 2013. The remaining aircrafts are expected to enter the inventory in parties until 2018.





TURKEY’S FIRST CRUISE MISSILE INTRODUCED AT THE 100th YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS





Turkey’s first cruise missile, the high precision guided Stand-off Missile (SOM) developed by TÜB?TAK SAGE was put on display at the 100th anniversary celebrations of the Turkish Air Force at Çi?li 2nd Main Airbase.





Developed since 2006 and carried out highly secretly, the SOM missile made its debut at the 100th year celebrations at Çi?li, Izmir. The missile system developed in 3 different variations, in line with the requirements of the Turkish Air Force Command, will enable to strike the targets defined with great accuracy by the aircraft before entering the effective range of the enemy air defence systems. With a range of over 180 km, the missile’s lightweight composite components make it difficult to be tracked by air defence radars. Aside from this, with the ability to monitor pre-defined points during its cruise ability and task planning in low altitudes it is able to evade the enemy air defence systems and rapidly move towards its target.





In addition to the integrated Inertial Navigation System (INS) and GPS that provides the missile’s medium range guidance, a Terrain Referenced Navigation System (TRNS) was developed. By means of this system even if the GPS signal ceases or is scrambled, the missile is able to close in on its target with great sensitivity with a pre-loaded database that follows land formations that enables it to correct its route.


In the terminal stage an infrared imager detects the individual target by matching its signature with its pre-loaded database of similar targets and is able to strike within a few meters of sensitivity and destroy the target with its highly effective warhead.





Developed to be integrated to the F-4E 2020 and the F-16 Block 40 aircraft in the inventory of the Turkish Air Force Command, the SOM’s certification work is in progress for the F-35 JSF to be entered into the inventory in the coming years.





TÜB?TAK SAGE also introduced at the Turkey Air Show 2011, the Wing Guidance Kit that allows an aircraft long range and guidance capabilities by enabling an aircraft to complete its mission prior to entering a danger zone and that can reach 30,000 ft. in altitude and a range of 100 km. as well as the Sensitive Guidance Kits that have sensitive strike capabilities under all weather conditions and that can reach 40,000 ft. in altitude with a range of 25 km.