104 Years Between Two Blue

On 24 June 1914, the founding of Naval Aviation School was approved by Navy Ministry. Its location was just alongside to the Aviation School in Yeşilköy. There was an additional hangar for seaplanes at the coast a few kilometers south. Today Yeşiköy Atatürk International Airport occupies the land that used to be the school and its runway and Airforce Academy is built on the grounds that used to house the hangar for the seaplanes.

To commemorate the 104. anniversary of Turkish Naval Aviation, I share photos I took today 4 years ago.

TCB44 kopya — TCB44, an AB-212 ASW helicopter. These old birds are getting retired as they finish the service lives.

TCB52 kopya — TCB52, an S-70B Seahawk helicopter. The workhorse of Turkish Naval Aviation.

TCB602 kopya — TCB-602, Socata training plane. These planes kept navy pilots flying during the period when Turkish Navy did not operate any dedicated maritime patrol/ASW plane

TCB652_1 kopya — TCB-652, a P-235 maritime patrol / ASW plane. It took ages to complete the maritime mission systems and sensor and even longer to integrate them to the existing CN-235 chassis. Now they are working around the clock.

TCB652 kopya — TCB-652

TCB701_1 kopya — TCB-701, P-72 utility airplane for Turkish Navy. In 2008 Turkey ordered 10 ATR 72-500 ASW from Italy. 6 years later the order was amended to 2 ATR-72 600 TMUA and 6 ATR-72 600 TMPA planes. 10 years later we are still waiting patiently for ASW the planes. All we got in the meantime are two unarmed ATR-72-600 planes for utility missions.

TCB52_1 kopya — TCB-52, SH-70 Seahawk.

TCB701 kopya — TCB-701

CDY_7349 kopya — 3 AB-212 helicopters in formation flight.

CDY_7345 kopya — 3 SH-70 Seahawk helicopters in formation flight.

DSC_2654 kopya — 3 TB-20 planes in formation flight.

DSC_2638 kopya — 3 P-235 ASW planes in formation flight.

DSC_2619 kopya — A member of Turkish naval special forces about to finish his parachute jump from a helicopter.

DSC_2618 kopya — A member of Turkish naval special forces about to finish his parachute jump from a helicopter.

DSC_2558 kopya — A four-man team of Turkish naval special forces fast-roping from a hovering SH-70 Seahawk.

CDY_7210 kopya — Sonobuoy launchers on a P-235 ASW plane.

CDY_7050 kopya — A Penguin anti-ship missile training round.

CDY_7046 kopya — Hellfire missile training rounds.

CDY_7047 kopya — A Mk-54 torpedo training round.

DSC_1895 kopya — A P-235 ASW plane and her crew.

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