Another veteran C-130B at the ready on 222 Filo's flightline. My 2011 shot of the same aircraft at Izmir (photo #1375) shows it in the previous unit markings, soon after being repainted from brown/green camouflage to the ubiquitous grey overall. Soon after acquisition from the USAF in the late 1980s, it was upgraded with ERCIYES avionics mods.

Awaiting next mission on the 222 Filo flightline. Ex Saudi 1609

Delivered new in March 2017. XQ1722 to Rotterdam

Entered service in May 2023. My ride to Istanbul-SAW, PC2731

Ex A9C-CB of Gulf Air and operated by Smart Lynx for Anadolu Jet. VF3170 from Istanbul-SAW

The first 321Neo for Pegasus, delivered September 2019. PC2732 from Istanbul-SAW

One of 221 Filo's A400Ms keeping company with 222 Filo C-130E 62-3496

Three Hercs including the ex Saudi spares ship with four of the stored Transalls

One of about a dozen C-130Es on the strength of the resident 222 Filo

One of eight A400Ms noted at Erkilet AB that day

Recently withdrawn from service, one of the 20 Transalls supplied to Turkey by Germany, ex 50+32. This was one of four upgraded for ISR/ELINT purposes, undergoing 'Gören-1' modifications with FLIR installation and otherwise referred to as the C-160T

Ex R Saudi AF 451, used for spares since at least 2019. This aircraft is destined to undergo the ERCIYES avionics programme and surprising though it may seem, will enter service after refurbishment. The modernisation provides a glass cockpit with night vision compatible display and lighting systems, multi-purpose mission computers and ground mission planning systems. The normal flight crew of five is reduced to four as a navigator is no longer needed. All 19 C-130s in the Turkish inventory will receive the updates, gaining the unofficial designations C-130BM & C-130EM.

One of six veteran C-130B's still operating with 222 Filo

Departing Erkilet AB, base of the Turkish AF's heavy transport assets, 221 Filo with the A400M (ex C-160D) and 222 Filo with the C-130B and E. Oddly carries serial in non-standard form including an extra '0'

Built for USAAF serial 42-92905, this C-47A-15-DK was operated by the 99th Troop Carrier Squadron, 441st Troop Carrier Group when it participated in the operation 'Market Garden' on September 17, 1944. In 1948 the aircraft was transferred to the Turkish AF, it received the Turkish serial 6059 and was initially coded CBK-59, later as 12-059.