In July 2026, the Türk Have Kuvvetleri reopened its third Main Jet Base in Konya for aviation enthusiasts from around the world to attend the International Anatolian Eagle exercise. This is one of 4Aviation’s most popular destinations and never disappoints; over 70 people had registered to join us on our trip to Turkey. Due to the large group and limited available airfare, it would be a very short tour, arriving in Konya late Tuesday evening and departing early Thursday, with only one full day available at the airbase. In previous years, there were sometimes two spotting days, but this year there was only one. Some people found this too short and went a bit longer; we had arranged extra hotel stays and airfare for that.
Larger groups would depart from Amsterdam and Düsseldorf airports, arriving far enough apart that the reserved bus could take them to their hotel in the city in two trips. But when the flight to Amsterdam was delayed by over an hour, both flights arrived almost simultaneously, and the tour guides devised an effective solution: completely cram the bus full, and the remaining participants followed in a series of taxis.
At the familiar hotel, the keys were already waiting, and despite a minor hiccup, we could quickly go to bed. It was already well past midnight, and the alarm would go off early again to be at the base on time. It seemed like the alarm went off after a few minutes, but a few hours had actually passed before everyone could join us for the early breakfast. Then a short ride on two buses to the main gate, where check-in also went relatively smoothly. The Turks wasted no time, and we were able to immediately board the buses to the flight line. There we saw F-15s from Saudi Arabia, F-16s from Jordan and the United States, Gripens from Hungary, and Eurofighters from Qatar—not bad at all. The apron used to be completely filled with aircraft, including Turkish F-16s, but this time there were a few gaps due to last-minute cancellations from some notable countries (Egypt, Oman, and Pakistan). This led to some grumbling, but that calmed down as the day progressed, as Turkish F-16s emerged from every nook and cranny.
From our spot, we could see the aircraft starting up, taxiing out, and taking off from the apron. We saw aircraft parked elsewhere take off and also pass by before or after landing, including, for many, the highlight of the participants: two Su-25s from the Azerbaijan Air Force. Dozens of aircraft participated in the morning mission, and after their takeoff, there was time to enjoy the well-prepared catering or purchase merchandise from the exercise or participating units. After landing, it was already afternoon, and the buses were ready to take us to the other side (west side) of the runway so we would have the sun at our backs in the afternoon as well.
For the afternoon, the Turks had prepared something very special: an Elephant Walk! The base came alive again, and the sounds of engines firing up could be heard from all sides. It was an impressive sight, with all the units participating in the exercise providing several aircraft, and the other units on the base also participating. What followed was a long line of aircraft taxiing down the runway while we stood at the edge, taking photos to our hearts’ content. The aircraft entered Runway 19R via the taxiway on the east side and taxied slowly to Runway 01R for takeoff. Most aircraft flew by in various formations, and a few, like the F-4 Phantom, made several beautiful passes. After the last landing, it was all over, and we had a wonderful day in glorious weather. Everyone was completely satisfied.
After a short wait, we were finished earlier than agreed, the bus took us back to the hotel. Once there, we could freshen up before choosing from the many restaurants in town for a delicious dinner. Because most of us had an early flight the next day, around 6:00-7:00 AM, we went to bed early and managed to get a few much-needed hours of rest. In the evening, we said goodbye to the participants who had booked their own flights home and to the rest upon arrival in Amsterdam and Düsseldorf.
We are once again very grateful to the Turkish Air Force for organizing this unique event and hope they will do it again in 2026; we will definitely be there then!
