Air Show Turkiye

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform at the “Air Show Turkiye” June 9, 2011, at the 2nd Main Jet Base Command, Cigli Air Base, Turkey. The air show was the leading event to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Turkish air force. More than 15 countries and 60 Chiefs of Air Forces attended the event held outside the western coastal city of Izmir. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Valda Wilson/Released)

Air Show Turkiye

Turkey’s aerobatic team, the Turkish Stars, performs at “Air Show Turkiye”, June 9, 2011, at the 2nd Main Jet Base Command, Cigli Air Base, Turkey. The air show was the leading event to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Turkish air force. More than 15 countries and 60 Chiefs of Air Forces attended the event held outside the western coastal city of Izmir. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Valda Wilson/Released)

Air Show Turkiye

The ‘Croatian Wings’ aerobatic team performs at “Air Show Turkiye” June 9, 2011, at the 2nd Main Jet Base Command, Cigli Air Base, Turkey. The air show was the leading event to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Turkish air force. More than 15 countries and 60 Chiefs of Air Forces attended the event held outside the western coastal city of Izmir. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Valda Wilson/Released)

Air Show Turkiye

‘Ali,’ an aerobatic performer, performs at “Air Show Turkiye” June 9, 2011, at the 2nd Main Jet Base Command, Cigli Air Base, Turkey. The air show was the leading event to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Turkish air force. More than 15 countries and 60 Chiefs of Air Forces attended the event held outside the western coastal city of Izmir. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Valda Wilson/Released)

Air Show Turkiye

Air Show celebrates 100th anniversary of the Turkish air force

Published June 21, 2011
By Senior Airman Anthony J. Hyatt
39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Aviators from all over the world met in Izmir, Turkey, to perform in "Air Show Turkiye," the leading event of the centennial celebrations of the Turkish air force, June 4-5, 2011.

More than 15 nations and 60 Chiefs of Air Forces attended the Air Show at the 2nd Main Jet Base Command, Cigli Air Base, Turkey, which is just outside of the western coastal city of Izmir.

"The air show in Izmir was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Turkish air force. Having the Thunderbirds and the (Air Force) Chief of Staff at the air show re-affirmed the health of our partnership with Turkey, an important NATO ally," said Col. Eric Beene, 39th Air Base Wing commander. "I am also proud of the men and women of the 39th Air Base Wing, the 425th Air Base Squadron and Team Izmir who contributed to the air show's success."

Several aerobatic teams performed at the large-scale air show to include the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, Croatian Krila Oluje, French Patrouille de France, Italian Frecce Tricolori, Polish Bialo Czerwone Iskry, Spanish Patrulla Aguila, the British Red Arrows and Turkish own Turkish Stars.

Approximately 185,000 people attended the two-day air show, which also included solo performances performed by an Austrian Saab J-105, Belgian F-16, Italian Eurofighter, Netherlander F-16, Pakistani F-16 and JF-17, Romanian IAR-99 Soim and Turkish Solo Turk F-16.

Spectators at the event also had the opportunity to have a close look at various static displays from multiple countries to include Algeria, Germany, Jordan, Serbia and Slovakia.

Some of the display platforms included Algeria's C-130, Pakistan's JF-17, Poland's CN-295 and Serbia's AN-26.

Visitors also received a glimpse of future projects of the Turkish air force, such as the A400M transport aircraft, the Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft, and the Gokturk 1 and 2 satellites.