A 4 day trip mainly for liners saw Daz, Pogo, Tugger and Nay head to Istanbul. An early LGW departure on Wizz Air saw us arrive at IST about 1430L. Friday was just collect the car and head to the hotel for some TC- liners.
We stayed at the Otel Kumsal on the coast which is perfect for landings, right over the hotel at about 3000ft. Quite reasonable rates at this time of the year and food and beer was of course available in the evening.
Saturday started with a drive by for an F-84 after a quick tyre change due to a blow out on the motorway.
02-12-23 Istanbul-Bogazkoy
53-7218 F-84F Thunderflash
The museum entry was 200tl, more if you want to take a camera but the phone was free. The museum hangar was closed due to works being carried out so only those outside were seen. Still a very good selection.
02-12-23 Ataturk - Havacilik Muzesi
430 Viscount
(3022) NF-5A Freedom Fighter
3070/3-070 NF-5A Freedom Fighter
(6008)/H-008 C-47B
(6052)/YSL-52 C-47A
6868 F-104S Starfighter
(6930)/9-930 AT-11 Kansan
10013 Do.28B Skyservant
10020 Do.28D Skyservant
10022 Do.28D Skyservant
10104 T-7C Citabria
10293 Do.27H
(10370) Robinson R22
(10683) C-54D Skymaster
11357 U-17A Skywagon
51-1901/1901 RF-84F Thunderflash
11917/1917 RF-84F Thunderflash
(12)344/4-344 F-104G Starfighter
(19)268 CL-13A Sabre
28941/941 F-84F Thunderstreak
39835/2-835 T-37C Tweety Bird - also marked TE-835
(4)1543/8-543 RT-33A Shooting Star
149877/TCB-877 S-2E Tracker
52-7577 UH-19B
54-2089/3-089 F-100C Super Sabre
42245/FW-245 F-100D Super Sabre
0-53386/386 F-102A Delta Dagger
67-0360 F-4E Phantom II
69-022/022 C-160D Transall
69-15724 UH-1H Iroquois
69-7522 RF-4E Phantom II
89-0032 F-16C Fighting Falcon
(N3424A)/2-220 T-34A Mentor
(TC-ABA) SE.210 Caravelle
(TC-CCH)/OK-16 T-34A Mentor
TC-ECL PZL-104 Wilga
(-) Mavi Isik G-1
On base seen through the mesh fence in the museum grounds were:
(7504)/04 T-6G Texan
(7021)/DE-21 P-47D Thunderbolt
(19207)/207 CL-13A Sabre
(35744) T-33A Shooting Star
+ an F-84
+ an F-104
There were more but the gun toting patrols put paid to further investigations
Time for a tyre change as the space saver was too much of a risk on the minor roads especially with three fat blokes and me in the car.
The FlyInn shoppimg mall is still going strong at Ataturk and lets you read a fair bit of the stored liners from the top floor. The fixed scope is still in situ and nobody batted an eyelid when our scopes came out.. Also a nice place for some decent local grub.
The next museum was in town and was 300tl entry
02-12-23 Rahmi M Koc Muzesi
(3041) NF-5A Freedom Fighter - cockpit/nose section
10041 Do.28D Skyservant
10133 Bellanca T-7C Citabria
10655 AH-1S Huey Cobra
(41-24311) B-24D Liberator - wreckage
75-6895 F-104S Starfighter
'G-AXNZ' Pitts S-1C - replica
G-BWDR Jet Provost T.3A
(LV-HVL) Cessna 150K - marked N6164G
TC-ALI Douglas DC-3
(TC-CCD)/OK-12 T-34A Mentor
TC-LEY Hansa Jet
TC-ZMC S-2R Thrush Commander
Day 3 was mainly spent at SAW for Pegasus and Anadolu Jet
After our fill of liners it was W&R time starting with a drive by for a Phantom
03-12-23 Tuzla
67-0376 F-4E Phantom II
Just the two preserved seen at Samandira but it was a Sunday.
03-12-23 Samandira AB
11050 U-17B Skywagon
+ U-17 preserved on far side
We woke up Monday to gale force winds and torrential rain. Departures from IST were not an option so we headed for some more W&R
04-12-23 Buyukcekmece
6060 C-47A - most sources say this is really 6069
51-4350/2-350 T-33A Shooting Star
(69-7125) F-5A Freedom Fighter
Just a short drive away
04-12-23 Buyukcekmece
(10012)/10-333 Do.28B Skyservant
(10294)/10-327 Do.27H
The 3 Stafs were seen from the co-ords in EMOOS
04-12-23 Ataturk - Air Force Academy Parade Ground
(5711) TF-104G Starfighter
(9078) F-104G Starfighter
(9083) F-104G Starfighter
04-12-23 Ataturk
Long shot... a Casa 235 dep 1445, nowhere to stop and nothing on any trackers...
So a successful trip was almost complete bar a three hour delay on the flight home. Back at LGW just before midnight.
Bon Appetite!
