Departing for Moscow-Vnukovo

On the way back to Tivat as MNE401.

Originally a Mexicana aircraft and leased from Khors Air in Ukraine from 2011.

One of a pair of Pakistan F-16C Block 52 Fighting Falcons at Konya

This old Airbus plies the route from Tehran IKA to Istanbul daily. Previously TU-TAI and TC-OAB of Onur.

Pakistan sent four F-16s to AE 2023, from 5(MR) Sqdn at Jacobabad-Shahbaz AB

A former Ukraine 737, leaving for Nur-Sultan as DV492.

Surprisingly, it appears that this is the first upload for the vast new Istanbul Airport, built in just four years and opened in 2018 to take over from Atatürk. Much rare traffic can be seen, more than at the old airport, particularly from Libya, Iran and controversially Russia, with some fueling companies still prepared to supply several Russian airlines carrying tourists. Thanks to sanctions meaning stolen western types are likely to be seized outside of Russia, much reliance is being placed on the homegrown SSJ, this one arriving here as WZ1903 from Stavropol and departing to Makhachkala.

From 151 Filo 'Fighting Wolf' at Merzifon.

Fire practice Phantom. Transferred to Turkey in 1987, it once served the 57th FIS in Iceland among other units.

One of a pair of Pakistan F-16D Block 52 Fighting Falcons at Konya

That Air Force photographer was seriously close to the runway! One of the joys of attending Anatolian Eagle, the enthusiast days being so well organised by the Turkish AF, is the lack of the usual airshow restraints we are all so used to at home now. No yellow jackets, crowdline so close to the runway, move from one side to the other as the sun goes round in the afternoon and completely insane flying by the solo F-16 low, low right over our heads :)

Four Qatari Typhoons attended Anatolian Eagle 2023 from the 7th Air Superiority Squadron at Tamim, two single and two twin-seaters.

Taking off towards the end of the morning session of Eagle exercise departures

Taken during the second of two 'Spotter Days' this year

One of a pair of Qatari two-seaters gets airborne in the morning session.

One of the first Özgür upgraded Fighting Falcons with deliveries having only just begun in 2023, featuring upgraded systems (of which some are produced in Turkey) and resplendent in 'digital' camouflage. Based here at Konya with 132 Filo ('Dagger').

Turkey operates a sizeable fleet of TAI-built CN-235s, of which at least three have this white VIP livery. This one is from 212 Filo at Ankara-Etimesgut.

A C-12 with a secret. Formerly with the US Embassy in South Africa, it was evicted when the government there found that it had a cut-out panel with cameras being used for spying. It was subsequently re-serialled in an attempt to cover its identity, having originally had a different FY 76 allocation. It is now Ankara-based.

Azerbaijan is said to have as many as 40 Su-25s in its inventory, although none were inherited as a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union, sourcing them subsequently from Georgia, Ukraine and Belarus.