Turkey retires first squadron of F-4 Phantoms

[maddog65]

DATE:12/05/09
SOURCE:Flight International
PICTURE: Turkey retires first squadron of F-4 Phantoms
By Tolga Ozbek

Turkey has disbanded its first squadron of McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom strike aircraft, under a transition plan leading to its future operation of Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The Turkish air force's 172nd Sqn, based in Malatya Erhac, had flown the F-4E for more than 32 years. It is planned to reform in 2014 following first deliveries of the JSF. Ankara expects to receive its first two F-35s that year, although these will first be used at a training centre in the USA. The air force's first conventional take-off and landing F-35As should arrive in Turkey in 2015, with the nation planning to buy 100 of the aircraft.

The 172nd Sqn retirement leaves Turkey with five Phantom units, including the 112th Sqn at Eskisehir, which operates "classic" F-4Es introduced from 1974. Two squadrons fly F-4E 2020 "Terminator" bombers, which were upgraded in the late 1990s in co-operation with Israel Aerospace Industries. The air force also has two squadrons of RF-4 reconnaissance aircraft.


http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... ntoms.html

If you go to the story you'll see one of the Turkish F-4's. I love the paint job on it.

Les

[Garysb]

172nd Sqn

Disbanded altogether eh, not just scaled down


Gary

[nickblack423]

172nd Sqn

Disbanded altogether eh, not just scaled down


Gary

Oh Dear Gary you had best get me some stitches cos my sides have just split. That was pretty awful but very clever at the same time. LOL

Nick

[nickblack423]

Shame to see that people are still hanging onto the hope of this bloody JSF. OK I will be the first to hold my hands up and say I was wrong when it enters service but I really cant see it ever happening.

Nick