SoloTürk
The Turkish Air Force’s solo F-16 display, created for the service’s centenary in 2011 and twice honoured at RIAT, flown in black, gold and silver from Konya.
SoloTürk: how the team came to be and what it flies today
A centenary project
SoloTürk was conceived to mark the Turkish Air Force’s centenary. The programme began on 25 November 2009, three pilots were selected on 14 January 2010 and trained between May and August that year, and the first private display was flown at Akıncı Air Base on 1 September 2010. The team, whose name was chosen from more than 300 suggestions by Air Force personnel, was presented to the public on 15 April 2011, when its black, gold and silver livery was unveiled.
From Akıncı to Konya
The display aircraft is a General Dynamics F-16C Block 40. The team was first attached to 141 Squadron at Akıncı near Ankara and moved in October 2016 to the 132nd Weapons and Tactics Squadron at Konya. It consists of two display pilots and a small support and maintenance team, and by its tenth anniversary it had flown more than 200 shows, around 60 of them abroad in 15 countries.
Awards and a close call
SoloTürk won the King Hussein Memorial Sword for the best overall flying display at RIAT in 2011, its first international season, and the best solo jet display award at RIAT in 2018; it was also named best demonstration at the Slovak International Air Fest in 2017. During Teknofest at Adana in early October 2024 the F-16 lost height alarmingly in a low-level roll before recovering close to the ground; an investigation was reported to have been opened.
SoloTürk in numbers
The team
- Formation
- طائرة واحدة
- Single F-16C display
- Two display pilots
More than 200 displays by its tenth anniversary.
الطائرة
- Flown
- General Dynamics F-16C Block 40
- General Dynamics F-16C Block 40 (2010–)
بيت
- Based at
- قاعدة قونية الجوية
- 132nd Weapons and Tactics Squadron, 3rd Main Jet Base, since October 2016
- Akıncı Air Base, 141 Squadron (2009–2016)
The display
- Aircraft in the display
- 1
- Livery
- black, gold and silver, with star and crescent and a golden eagle
Every type SoloTürk has flown
| الطائرات | سنين | Number | ملحوظة |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon Block 40 | since 2010 | 1 | Single display aircraft with a back-up. |
What SoloTürk is known for
- King Hussein Memorial Sword for best overall flying display, RIAT 2011 (Code One).
- Best solo jet display, RIAT 2018 (Defence Turkey).
- Best demonstration, Slovak International Air Fest 2017 (Defence Turkey).
SoloTürk, year by year
SoloTürk programme begins.
First three display pilots selected.
First private display at Akıncı Air Base.
Public introduction and livery unveiled for the Air Force centenary.
King Hussein Memorial Sword at RIAT, Fairford.
Team moves to Konya.
Best demonstration at the Slovak International Air Fest.
Best solo jet display at RIAT.
Low-level recovery during Teknofest at Adana; investigation reported.
The cost of flying this close
Display flying is among the most demanding flying there is. These are the accidents on record, with the findings as published.
F-16C. During Teknofest at Adana the aircraft dropped its nose in a low roll above the runway and recovered very close to the ground. Unconfirmed reports suggested a flight-control problem; Turkish reports said an investigation had been opened. No injuries reported. No fatalities.
Everything people ask about SoloTürk
What aircraft does SoloTürk fly?
Where is SoloTürk based?
When was SoloTürk founded?
Has SoloTürk won awards?
Around SoloTürk
كل حقيقة، تم التحقق منها
- SoloTürk (English Wikipedia)
- SOLOTURK welcomes Defence Turkey on its 10th anniversary (Defence Turkey)
- Solo Turk (Code One Magazine, Lockheed Martin)
- Watch Turkey’s Solo Turk F-16 demo jet’s close call during a recent airshow (The War Zone)
Verified 2026-10-02.