TheTurkish Stars(Turkish:Türk Yıldızları) are the aerobatic demonstration team of theTurkish Air Forceand the nationalaerobaticsteam ofTurkey.
| Turkish Stars | |
|---|---|
| Türk Yıldızları | |
 Turkish Stars emblem | |
| Active | November 7, 1992 |
| Country |  Turkey |
| Branch | Turkish Air Force |
| Role | Aerobaticdemonstration Team |
| Size | 10 Pilots, 7 Public affairs, 11 Maintenance personnel |
| Garrison/HQ | Konya Air Base |
| Motto(s) | A perfect harmony of skill, speed and discipline... |
| Colors |
|
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Major Kürşat Kömür |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | 10NF-5A Freedom Fighter 2NF-5B Freedom Fighter |
| Transport | 1C-130 1C-160 1CASA/IPTN CN-235 |
The team was formed on 7 November 1992, and was named the Turkish Stars on 11 January 1993.[1]
Turkish Stars fly with eight CanadairNF-5fighter planes obtained from theRoyal Netherlands Air Force,[2]making them one of few national aerobatics teams to flysupersonicaircraft. TwelveNF-5fighter planes are available to the team. The team usesCASA/IPTN CN-235,C-130andC-160support aircraft in Turkish Stars colours. The team is stationed at theKonya Air Baseof 3rd Main Jet Base Group Command. As a part of modernization programs of the Turkish Air Force, the NF-5 aircraft are planned to be replaced with locally producedTAIHurjetin mid 2020s.[3]
On 24 August 2001, the Turkish Stars demonstrated at an airshow to more than one million people inBaku,Azerbaijan,setting a world record.[4]
As of May 2024[update],Major Kürşat Kömür serve as fleet commander of Turksih Stars.[5]
Incidents
editOn 13 March 2012, one of the team'sNF-5fighter planes crashed during a training session inKonya Province,2 km (1.2 mi) from the airbase where the team is stationed. PilotFlight lieutenantÜmit Özer, who had joined the Turkish Stars shortly before, died in the crash.[6]
On 7 April 2021, anNF-5fighter plane crashed during a training session nearKaratay.PilotFlight lieutenantBurak Gençcelep died in the crash.[7]
On 6 December 2022, during a training flight, an NF-5 collided with a bird causing engine failure. The pilot ejected and was confirmed to be unharmed.[8]
On 14 March 2024, during a training flight, an NF-5 crashed into a construction site near the runway during a landing attempt, killing one construction worker who was operating construction equipment. The pilot successfully ejected and was airlifted by helicopter to the Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine.[9]The Turkish Ministry of National Defence officialTwitteraccount announced that the crash occurred at 12:51pm Local Time and the cause was unknown. It also announced that an investigation had been initiated.[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Türk Yıldızları".turkyildizlari.tsk.tr.Archived fromthe originalon 20 June 2012.Retrieved13 January2022.
- ^Hv. K. K. Mebs (19 May 2011)."About the NF-5 Aircraft – Türk Yıldızları".Turkyildizlari.tsk.tr. Archived fromthe originalon 27 November 2015.Retrieved18 April2014.
- ^"HÜRJET | Turkish Aerospace".tusas.Retrieved8 April2021.
- ^"Niçin Çok Özel? - Türk Yıldızları".turkyildizlari.tsk.tr.Archived fromthe originalon 21 June 2012.Retrieved13 January2022.
- ^"Uçuş Eki̇bi̇"[Filght Crew] (in Turkish). 1 May 2024.Retrieved1 November2024.
- ^Yıldız, Mehmet Kayhan; Hasan Dönmez; Hakan Kaya (13 March 2012)."Uçak düştükten hemen sonra çekildi".Hürriyet(in Turkish).Retrieved13 March2012.
- ^"Konya'da 'Türk Yıldızları' uçağı düştü: 1 şehit".Anadolu Agency(in Turkish). 7 April 2021.Retrieved7 April2021.
- ^"Military plane crashes in central Türkiye, pilot survives".Daily Sabah. 6 December 2022.Retrieved7 December2022.
- ^"1 dies as Turkish training plane crashed into work machine in Konya".Daily Sabah.14 March 2024.
- ^T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı [@tcsavunma] (14 March 2024)."Konya'da eğitim uçuşu yapan Hava Kuvvetlerimize ait bir NF-5 uçağımız saat 12.51'de henüz bilinmeyen bir nedenle kaza kırıma uğramıştır"[An NF-5 aircraft belonging to the Turkish Air Force, conducting a training flight in Konya, crashed at 12:51 for reasons yet unknown.] (Tweet) (in Turkish) – viaTwitter.
External links
edit
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