SOLO TURK TEAM READY FOR FAIRFORD
THE PILOTS behind the Turkish Air Force's F-16 solo display say they are looking forward to performing in front of the crowds at this weekend's Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
Major Murat Keles will be putting the gold, silver and black F-16 through its paces in the skies above RAF Fairford on Saturday and Sunday, having arrived from his home base near the Turkish capital, Ankara, on Wednesday.
The SoloTurk team would probably win the prize for the youngest display team at the Air Tattoo, having been formed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Air Force. The team performed in front of crowds for the first time back in April before making their international debut at the Turkish Air Force's 100th anniversary show at Izmir.
The team's appearance at Fairford will be their first in the UK.
Captain Yalin Ahbab is one of three pilots who flies the SoloTurk display. He said: "We are very excited to be here at Fairford. This is our first really big show abroad and we have heard many good things from our colleagues on the Turkish Stars display team and from those who have visited the show in the past."
The team are extremely proud of the display they have rehearsed and choreographed, and promise it will be different from other F-16 displays at this weekend's event.
"We have a display which will impress everyone from the young children to other pilots watching in the crowd," Capt Ahbab added.
The team's F-16 Fighting Falcon jet is painted in a striking design, featuring a gold eagle to represent the insignia of the Turkish Air Force. The stripes represent the high speed at which the aircraft can fly, while the star and crescent underneath also feature on the Turkish national flag.
Friendship between the Turkish Air Force and the Air Tattoo goes back many years and the Eastern European air force regularly participates in the airshow. In 2006, two F-4 Phantoms came from their base in central Turkey whilst in 2008, the nation sent its Turkish Stars aerobatic display team.
July 15, 2011
