Turkish F-4 Big Birthday Bash
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2024 11:28 am
Two weeks has passed since the Turkish AF Phantom 50th anniversary event, and my memories of long waits, long queues and rude behaviour by some spotters is now fading. Aside from minor niggles though it turned out to be a great visit, and as I missed the heyday of the F-4 in European service this could be my only chance to see a lot of Phantoms in one place.
Day 1 involved a long wait up a hill but when they came the flypasts surpassed expectations, with the 50th anniversary special scheme and a standard 111 Filo jet doing twelve passes each, many of which were a real in your face show of force. The pilot in the special jet in particular flew it like he stole it.
On day 2 we had privileged access to Eskişehir Air Base, light was poor for photography unfortunately but our hosts put on an excellent show and we probably saw the majority of active Phantoms still in service, including a couple of 401 Filo test and evaluation airframes in the 10 jet elephant walk.
Overall a great experience, thank you to the Turkish AF for putting on a free event and inviting spotters to come along and enjoy the Phantom birthday with them.
241116a F-4E 77-0303 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241116b F-4E 73-1052 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241116c F-4E 77-0303 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241116d F-4E 73-1052 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241116e F-4E 77-0303 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241116f F-4E 73-1052 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241116g F-4E 77-0303 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241116h F-4E 73-1052 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241116m F-4E 77-0303 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241116n F-4E 73-1052 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241116o F-4E 77-0303 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241116r F-4E 73-1052 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241117 F-4E 73-1047 & 77-0290 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241117a F-4E 73-1048 & 73-1052 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241117b F-4E 73-1046 & 73-1048 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241117c F-4E 73-1048 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241117d F-4E TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241117f F-4E 77-0303 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241117g F-4E 77-0303 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241117h F-4E TuAF 111 & 401 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241117i F-4E TuAF 111 & 401 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241117j F-4E TuAF 111 & 401 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241117k F-4E 73-1053 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241117l F-4E 73-1039 & 77-0300 TuAF 401 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241117m F-4E 73-1049 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
241117n F-4E TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr
Thanks for looking!
Day 1 involved a long wait up a hill but when they came the flypasts surpassed expectations, with the 50th anniversary special scheme and a standard 111 Filo jet doing twelve passes each, many of which were a real in your face show of force. The pilot in the special jet in particular flew it like he stole it.
On day 2 we had privileged access to Eskişehir Air Base, light was poor for photography unfortunately but our hosts put on an excellent show and we probably saw the majority of active Phantoms still in service, including a couple of 401 Filo test and evaluation airframes in the 10 jet elephant walk.
Overall a great experience, thank you to the Turkish AF for putting on a free event and inviting spotters to come along and enjoy the Phantom birthday with them.
241116a F-4E 77-0303 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241116b F-4E 73-1052 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241116c F-4E 77-0303 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241116d F-4E 73-1052 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241116e F-4E 77-0303 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241116f F-4E 73-1052 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241116g F-4E 77-0303 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241116h F-4E 73-1052 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241116m F-4E 77-0303 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241116n F-4E 73-1052 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241116o F-4E 77-0303 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241116r F-4E 73-1052 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241117 F-4E 73-1047 & 77-0290 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241117a F-4E 73-1048 & 73-1052 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241117b F-4E 73-1046 & 73-1048 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241117c F-4E 73-1048 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241117d F-4E TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241117f F-4E 77-0303 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241117g F-4E 77-0303 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241117h F-4E TuAF 111 & 401 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241117i F-4E TuAF 111 & 401 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241117j F-4E TuAF 111 & 401 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241117k F-4E 73-1053 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241117l F-4E 73-1039 & 77-0300 TuAF 401 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241117m F-4E 73-1049 TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on Flickr241117n F-4E TuAF 111 Filo by Aquila427, on FlickrThanks for looking!
