Türk Yıldızları

Turkish Stars Turkish Air Force aerobatic demonstration team
Active	November 7, 1992
Country	Turkey
Branch	Turkish Air Force
Role	Aerobatic demonstration Team
Size	10 Pilots, 7 Public affairs, 11 Maintenance personnel
Garrison/HQ	Konya Air Base
Motto(s)	A perfect harmony of skill, speed and discipline...
Colors	Red, White
Commanders
Current commander	Major Esra Ozatay
Aircraft flown
Fighter	10 NF-5A Freedom Fighter 2 NF-5B Freedom Fighter
Transport	1 C-130 1 C-160 1 CASA/IPTN CN-235

The Turkish Stars (Turkish: Türk Yıldızları) 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 the only aerobatics team with formations of eight supersonic aircraft and 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.

Current squadron leader Major Esra Ozatay assumed the role on 08 September 2016. She is the first and only female pilot holds this position in Turkish Air Force.

On 13 March 2012, one of the team's NF-5 fighter planes crashed during a training session in Konya Province 2 km (1.2 mi) 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.

NF-5A during landing

NF-5B of the team, at takeoff

Turkish Air Force Transall C-160D, one of the team's support aircraft

Performing during the 2011 Northern Cyprus Peace and Freedom Day

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Wikipedia