50 years of Phantom – Turkish Air Force

On November 16 and 17, 2024, at Eskișehir / 1st Main Jet Base, Turkish Air Force organized an event, celebrating 50 years of service for their F-4E Phantoms II, named Terminator 2020 after modernization.

Aviation enthusiasts were treated to a spectacular event celebrating 50 years of Turkish Phantom operations. On Saturday, October 16th, a specially adorned F-4E Phantom joined another aircraft in standard camouflage to perform exhilarating high-speed, low-pass maneuvers over the picturesque Sakarya river valley. The iconic roar of the engines and the aircraft’s distinctive profile served as a powerful tribute to its Cold War origins and its continued reputation as a formidable machine.

The celebration, hosted at the 1st Main Jet Air Base in Eskişehir, was flawlessly organized by the Türk Hava Kuvvetleri (Turkish Air Force) and 111 Filo “Panter,” delivering a heartfelt tribute to half a century of aviation excellence.

Here is the link of the F-4E brochure in Turkish Air Force service.

Bellow you can enjoy a photo gallery from the event.