Turkish Stars


The Turkish Stars are the aerobatic demonstration team of the Turkish Air Force and the national aerobatics team of Turkey.
The team was formed on November 7, 1992 and was named the Turkish Stars on January 11, 1993.
Turkish Stars fly with eight Canadair NF-5 fighter planes obtained from the Royal Netherlands Air Force, making them one of few national aerobatics teams to fly supersonic aircraft. Twelve NF-5 fighter planes are available to the team. The team uses CASA/IPTN CN-235, C-130 and C-160 support aircraft in Turkish Stars colours. The team is stationed at the Konya Air Base of 3rd Main Jet Base Group Command.
On August 24, 2001, Turkish Stars demonstrated an airshow to more than one million people in Baku, Azerbaijan that is to be a world record.

Leadership

Current squadron leader Major Esra Özatay assumed the role on 8 September 2016. She is the first and only female pilot holds this position in Turkish Air Force.

Incidents

On 13 March 2012, one of the team's NF-5 fighter planes crashed during a training session in Konya Province from the airbase where the team is stationed. Pilot Flight lieutenant Ümit Özer, who had joined the Turkish Stars shortly before, died in the crash.

Gallery