Preparations for the Turkish air force's 100th anniversary show are at an advanced stage, with the service's first solo display aircraft having made its debut ahead of the event.
Dubbed "Solo Turk", the specially painted Lockheed Martin F-16C made a 20min flight from Akinci air base near Ankara on 15 April, piloted by Maj Murat Keles.
Watching the display were Turkish President Abdullah Gul and armed forces commander Gen Isik Kosaner.
Sporting a grey nose, black fuselage and wings and with a golden eagle adorning its tail, aircraft 91-0011 will make its first public appearance at a centenary show to be staged at Izmir/Cigli air base from 4-6 June. More than 20 air forces are due to attend the show.
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Both images © Turkish air force |
The "Solo Turk" display sequence demonstrates the handling performance of the F-16 from +9g to -3g, with manoeuvres including low passes, a loop, a Cuban eight and the deployment of self-protection flares.
Flightglobal's MiliCAS database says aircraft 91-0011 was delivered in 1993. Assembled by Turkish Aerospace Industries, the single-seat fighter is powered by a General Electric F110-100 turbofan engine.
The Turkish air force has an active fleet of 216 F-16C/Ds, MiliCAS says, including 41 two-seat trainers.
Source: Flight International
