2011-09-16

Air Force Museum - Istanbul / TURKEY (Part I)


An extended vacation and unexpected miss communication of internet connection what prevented me of posting earlier some photos I took in one of my ever greatest vacations in years !!
A decision to visit the beautiful city of Istanbul for a tour in its museums, palaces and monuments was made after knowing that there is an air force and aviation museum there "Hava Kuvvetleri Muzesi", located in Yesilkoy (near airport) and about 40 minutes by train from Serkuci station.
I was sure to photograph every single aircraft to post them here in 3 parts.


By entering the main gate a Lockheed F-104G welcomes you with its extra long fuselage (of course comparing to its narrow wingspan), this Starfighter is reg. 4-344.


Another few steps will lead you to the agile Lockheed F-16C Fighting Falcon, reg. 1911/2011 most probably built by TAI (Turkish Aerospace Industries).


Honestly, the main reason for my visit there is to see the huge and horrible Phantom II with Shark's mouth !!
This newly painted F-4E is reg. 67-0360, with 4 Sparrow's below and K.Ataturk sign on the right air intake hole, around 160 units are still in service with TuAF.


A Northrop NF-5A Freedom Fighter of the "Turkish Stars" acrobatic team reg. 3022/22.


Another Lockheed F-104G reg.12619/FG-619 with external fuel tanks, note the national TuAF square insignia which was used until 1972.


An F-104S reg. 6868.


The latest Starfighter is the training TF-104G variant reg. 63-5725/9-725.
It's remarkable that TuAF used to purchase also some F-104's built by Canadair and few by Alenia with a total number of 420+ units served till mid 1990s.


Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter reg. 14460 in an attractive earth colors camo.


NF-5A reg. 3070/3-070.


A reconnaissance RF-5A reg. 97147/5-147.


Republic F-84F Thunderstreak reg. 28941/941; 380+ units served till mid 1970s.


Republic F-84G Thunderjet reg. 110572, was this aircraft one of the older "Turkish Stars" acrobatic team? nice camo...


Another F-84G reg. 19953/953; Huge number of this aircraft entered service (around 480 units), last withdrawn from service in 1966.


A reconnaissance RF-84F Thunderflash reg. 11917/1917 carrying huge external fuel tanks.


Also another RF-84F reg. 11901/1901; 60+ units served in TuAF till early 1980s.


North American F-100C Super Sabre reg. 54-2009/3-089 with free-fall bombs aside (500, 750, 1000 lbs).


F-100D reg. 54-2245/FW-245.


The latest F-100 is F variant reg. 56-8788/ 8-788 with two AGM-12B Bullpup Air-Ground guided missiles aside; Around 270 units of these aircrafts served in TuAF till late 1980s.

3 comments:

  1. That's some nice pics. I gotta question. I read that Turkish zippers were armed with 1000lbs bombs during Cyprus conflict, when they sank their own destroyer. Do you happen to have a picture of those? Or if you just tell me how those bombs look like? I presume they are unguided...

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  2. Vasko...would you please send me ur e-mail address so i can send you the bomb photos i could take in my visit to this museum...:)

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  3. Yeah sure, my mail is vasko_187@yahoo.com, thanks a lot.

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