30 YEARS OF TURKISH FALCONS

The Turkish Air Force is the third largest operator of the F-16 — it is also one of five countries to have flown the Fighting Falcon for more than 30 years. Having initiated a restructuring project following the events surrounding the coup attempt in June 2015, Turkey’s ‘Viper’ community has changed dramatically

A LOT HAS CHANGED in the Turkish Air Force (Türk Hava Kuvvetleri, THK) F-16 world since June 2015. The 4th Main Jet Base at Mürted, which was the largest of the F-16 hubs and was determined to have taken a role in the coup attempt, closed and its units redeployed. Notably, 141, 142 and 143 Filo (squadrons) were effectively disbanded. Both 141 and 143 Filo moved to Merzifon and were renamed as 151 and 153 Filo, whereas 142 Filo was transferred to Eskişehir as 113 Filo, a former RF-4E unit. The Solotürk display team was annexed from 141 Filo and joined 132 Filo ‘Dagger’ at Konya.

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