Pilots Flying Old F-4 Fighters Were the Turkish President’s Most Loyal Aerial Defenders

[RepublicOk]

Pilots Flying Old F-4 Fighters Were the Turkish President’s Most Loyal Aerial Defenders
But the aging planes couldn’t match the rebels’ F-16s
By DAVID AXE
On the night of July 15, elements of the Turkish military rose up against Pres. Recep Tayyip Erdogan — and very nearly succeeded in killing or capturing their controversial leader.

A few military units remained steadfastly loyal to the embattled president. Among them — the 1st Main Jet Base in Eskisehir in northwestern Turkey. The base’s F-4E Terminator 2020 fighters flew to Erdogan’s aid during the direst hours of the daylong attempted coup.
But the aged fighters were no match for the much newer F-16s that the rebels had commandeered.

Turkish air force squadrons led the ultimately failed coup. Apparently following many months of the planning, the rebels — reportedly inspired by exiled Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen — seized control of at least four F-16s, four KC-135 tankers, several UH-60 transport helicopters, an AH-1 helicopter gunship, two AS532 rescue copters, six C-160 and C-130 transport planes and two brand-new A400 transports.

At 10:00 on the night of July 15, two pairs of F-16s took off from the 4th Main Jet Base at Akinci, north of Ankara. With a rebel air traffic controller providing a cover story, the F-16s flew low over Ankara and, joined by rebel helicopters, strafed government, police and intelligence facilities, reportedly killing scores of loyalist personnel.

Erdogan had been vacationing on the Mediterranean coast. Apparently tipped off about the impending coup, the president climbed in his Gulfstream VIP jet for the roughly hour-long flight to Istanbul. Arriving over the city, the crew found the airport under rebel control. As Erdogan’s Gulfstream circled the airport, rebel F-16s vectored toward the presidential plane, perhaps intending to shoot it down.

Alternatively, it’s possible the putsch leaders wanted to capture, not kill Erdogan — so that they could try the president in some future revolutionary court. “Coup plotters had [issued an] order that night to force the airplane land at Akinci in Ankara … to catch Erdogan alive,” Babak Taghvaee, an expert on Middle East military aviation, told War Is Boring.

In any event, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, still loyal to Erdogan, reportedly begged the air force to defend the president. But most of the Main Jet Bases declined to help. The 3rd Main Jet Base in Konya, in south-central Turkey, agreed to launch F-16s to “escort” the president — but refused to allow the fighters to shoot down rebel jets.

Apparently only the 1st Main Jet Base was willing to fight for Erdogan. But according to Taghvaee, the base’s upgraded, Vietnam War-vintage F-4s — numbering around 50 — lacked effective air-to-air missiles and could not shoot down rebel planes, even if their pilots wanted to do so.

The crew of Erdogan’s Gulfstream saved themselves and their president by switching the plane’s radio transponder signal to match a Turkish Airlines flight, and by turning off the plane’s external lights.

Thus obscured, the Gulfstream escaped the rebel F-16s. “The risk of shooting down another plane, and losing credibility too, could be a factor affecting the coup’s F-16s’ [ability] to shoot down his plane and kill Erdogan,” wrote David Cenciotti, an aviation expert and blogger.
Once loyalist forces recaptured the Istanbul airport, Erdogan’s Gulfstream landed safely. Speaking to CNN later, the president was vague about his crew’s defensive tactics, but did describe the rebel F-16s flying low overhead and breaking the sound barrier.

Erdogan called on his supporters to rise up. Thousands of civilians joined loyalist forces on the streets, overwhelming rebel troops. The 1st Main Jet Base’s aged F-4s finally flew into action. Unable to shoot down the rebels’ F-16s, they instead bombed the runway at Akinci, effectively grounding the putsch’s main air assets.

The coup petered out on July 16. Nearly 300 people had died, including around 100 rebels. His presidency secure, Erdogan ordered loyal forces to arrest some 7,000 suspected coup-supporters, including hundreds of senior officers.

Not everyone agrees with Taghvaee regarding the F-4 pilots’ actions during the putsch attempt. “The story about the F-4s is completely false,” Arda Mevlutoglu, a Turkish reporter specializing in military subjects, told War Is Boring.

“Most of the armed forces were loyal to the republic,” Mevlutoglu said separately. “This is the very reason the coup did not succeed.”

If Taghvaee is right, with the post-coup purge gutting the leadership at the best squadrons and bases, the old F-4s and their pre-Erdogan crews could be, for the moment, the loyal core of Turkey’s air force.

Source

 

[Hakikat ve Hikmet]

Old is gold..

The base commanders were FETO terrorists in "crypto" mode, and so are the half of the F16 pilots. They're all being arrested. I hope some just take them to a quiet corner and send them to hell...

An empty house is better than a bad tenant. Until enough F16 pilots are trained TuAF might take a little help from friendly air forces. IMHO, who else than the PAF pilots - one of the best in the business. Job description: Bomb PKK terrorists every now and then; test Turkish made WVR/BVR missiles, ASEA radar, EW suits etc.; eat less spicy Turkish Kebaps unless they bring their own chefs; train and develop Turkish Deli Kanli (mad max) young pilots to the level of Gazi M M Alam in flying skills and Shehit Refiki in moral strengths. Benefits: overwhelming love and affection from the Turkish folks..

 

[Arshad mahmood Hussain]

Have to admit, I feared the worst for erdogan. Things could have gone so much worse, the rebels made some huge mistakes. When the people came to streets it was game over. I salute the brave Turkish people.

 

[Oguzhan]

An f-16 can't hit another f-16 if it is with the stock mission computer.But f-4's mission computer is a Turkish one.

 

[shah1398]

An empty house is better than a bad tenant. Until enough F16 pilots are trained TuAF might take a little help from friendly air forces. IMHO, who else than the PAF pilots - one of the best in the business. Job description: Bomb PKK terrorists every now and then; test Turkish made WVR/BVR missiles, ASEA radar, EW suits etc.

With active engagement of F-16s in our Tribal areas over it wud be an honor for PAF F-16 Pilots to fly Turkish F-16s for Turkey. PAF F-16 pilots have mastered the art of precision strikes and rest assure they can hit hard when needed by Turkey. Not to forget the extensive and vast experience these Pilots would bring back Home as U mentioned. Waiting for Turkey to just say it.

 

[Hakikat ve Hikmet]

With active engagement of F-16s in our Tribal areas over it wud be an honor for PAF F-16 Pilots to fly Turkish F-16s for Turkey. PAF F-16 pilots have mastered the art of precision strikes and rest assure they can hit hard when needed by Turkey. Not to forget the extensive and vast experience these Pilots would bring back Home as U mentioned. Waiting for Turkey to just say it.

The pilot of the presidential plane of Merhum Turgut Ozal, the first conservative Muslim President of Turkey, was a Pak. They killed Ozal by poisoning...

Almost all the security arrangements of Turkey have been breached by these traitors. Almost everything needs to be built from the scratch...

No proxies can come within billions of light years of these soldiers of Iblis trained in the best war colleges. However, the best German tanks or the US fighters of these Satanic proxies came to zilch as the world relived for a few hours the motivational factors of the Ordu under Sultan Alparslan or Kutubeddin Aybek . Even Mr. Trump couldn't but appreciate their raw courage. One nation two states...

 

[shah1398]

The pilot of the presidential plane of Merhum Turgut Ozal, the first conservative Muslim President of Turkey, was a Pak. They killed Ozal by poisoning...

Almost all the security arrangements of Turkey have been breached by these traitors. Almost everything needs to be built from the scratch...

No proxies can come within billions of light years of these soldiers of Iblis trained in the best war colleges. However, the best German tanks or the US fighters of these Satanic proxies came to zilch as the world relived for a few hours the motivational factors of the Ordu under Sultan Alparslan or Kutubeddin Aybek . Even Mr. Trump couldn't but appreciate their raw courage. One nation two states...

Turkey is role model for whole Muslim world esp Pakistan. The bond between the two countries is so strong that its in the roots of people of both Nation. While the rest of the world was celebrating the so called coup as successful, I had seen pain in the eyes of even common Pakistani. Even after the Istanbul blasts I myself had cancelled my visit to Germany and rather decided to go to Turkey and land via Istanbul. I am one of many such Pakistanis who ll play their part in their own capacity. Purpose of all this narration was to show our resolve that whatever world thinks we Pakistanis always stand behind Turkey as we can never forget how Turkey has always come forward in helping us in every kind of situation. Satanic forces are everywhere and the world is apparently taken over by them but the fact is that IN SHA ALLAH they ll be defeated come what may.

 

[C130]

An f-16 can't hit another f-16 if it is with the stock mission computer.But f-4's mission computer is a Turkish one.

I don't buy that.

 

[somebozo]

All of this looks like a well planed drama using complicit assets inside intelligence. They knew of the coup..and they allowed it to happen..in a controlled manner..the fact that all air bases refused to help the president speaks volumes about his credibility...this is Erdogan edition of Reichstag fire..and will be used to curb civil liberties in Turkey will endorsing authoritarian powers to Erdogan...

 

[orko_8]

An f-16 can't hit another f-16 if it is with the stock mission computer.But f-4's mission computer is a Turkish one.

Source: https://defence.pk/threads/pilots-f...-loyal-aerial-defenders.440476/#ixzz4FPOCzJfQ

Completely false.

 

[Hakikat ve Hikmet]

All of this looks like a well planed drama using complicit assets inside intelligence. They knew of the coup..and they allowed it to happen..in a controlled manner..the fact that all air bases refused to help the president speaks volumes about his credibility...this is Erdogan edition of Reichstag fire..and will be used to curb civil liberties in Turkey will endorsing authoritarian powers to Erdogan...

I beg to differ. I know these FETO folks quite extensively for since my college days I've been participating in many of their events with close friends heavily involved with this organization. Please let me elaborate the whole story briefly:

• FETO isn't the proxies we see in TV - "Dudes in bed sheets". They're the best of the best in the business - planned, funded, executed and incubated by the best minds the imperialists have ever produced in the history of the mankind. Why? They need to put a stop to Turkey's advances ever since the fall of Istanbul. No buts or ifs are in there.
• FETO takes up kids, especially intelligent ones, from the poor families at a very early age to make them die hard members. They raise them and control them 100%. No human being can have such a level of control over another being - it's almost at a Satanic level. Everything in their lives - boarding, food, education, career, employment, marriage, kids, friends, finances etc. - is chosen, fostered and controlled by the "Abi"s (Big Brothers) in the organization.
• It's a strictly hierarchical organization. You function only on "need to know basis". Every group has an Imam. These Imams are controlled by an Imam at a higher level, and it goes on. Extensive usage for coding and encryptions are used for all of their activities, which can surprise the best system architects. Abstractions are at the level of theoretical Unified Modeling Language, which only few computer science students can master.
• Extensive usage of espionage and ears droppings are used. Each guy spy upon the other guy. Everybody has a report for himself prepared by everyone else he's attached to in the organization. Such reporting can beat even Stasi - the East German Spy Agency in the Cold War era.
• All government and private organizations in Turkey have been breached by them. For example, in Turkey 90% of the officers and NCOs are recruited from Military High Schools for Officers and NCOs. FETO cliques have been managing to put their students, sometimes the whole batches, into those schools by getting hold of the questions before the exams. So is the case with all public services- education, judiciary, police, administration, treasury etc.
• They have built a parallel state structure where the chain of command is maintained by them with their own hierarchies. For example, FETO Generals take order from FETO NCOs since the NCO has been appointed as the Imam of that base by FETO. They collect all the information in an organization, and give it to their folks to store them.
• With police, judiciary and media they can entrap any person they wish if they feel threatened. Examples are numerous. Blackmailing folks in high positions and rich businessmen are the norms for them.
• FETO folks can live in "crypto" mode even for 40 years. In an organization they communicate with each orther in an encrypted mode. They ensure that their guys are in all right positions. Everyone else is sidelined in terms of promotion, postings or benefits. It's like - ether with us or be our enemies. They are only activated whenever needed. The terrorist attack was one such moment when they were activated en masse.

The FETO terrorist attack was not to conduct a regular coup - it was the attempt to occupy Turkey with internal agents to materialize a comment made by Lord Carzon around a century back - "we'll keep Turkey intact physically but will kill her from inside" - in verbatim....

Bottom line: either Turkey destroys FETO or FETO destroys Turkey...

 

[Taimoor Khan]

I beg to differ. I know these FETO folks quite extensively for since my college days I've been participating in many of their events with close friends heavily involved with this organization. Please let me elaborate the whole story briefly:

• FETO isn't the proxies we see in TV - "Dudes in bed sheets". They're the best of the best in the business - planned, funded, executed and incubated by the best minds the imperialists have ever produced in the history of the mankind. Why? They need to put a stop to Turkey's advances ever since the fall of Istanbul. No buts or ifs are in there.
• FETO takes up kids, especially intelligent ones, from the poor families at a very early age to make them die hard members. They raise them and control them 100%. No human being can have such a level of control over another being - it's almost at a Satanic level. Everything in their lives - boarding, food, education, career, employment, marriage, kids, friends, finances etc. - is chosen, fostered and controlled by the "Abi"s (Big Brothers) in the organization.
• It's a strictly hierarchical organization. You function only on "need to know basis". Every group has an Imam. These Imams are controlled by an Imam at a higher level, and it goes on. Extensive usage for coding and encryptions are used for all of their activities, which can surprise the best system architects. Abstractions are at the level of theoretical Unified Modeling Language, which only few computer science students can master.
• Extensive usage of espionage and ears droppings are used. Each guy spy upon the other guy. Everybody has a report for himself prepared by everyone else he's attached to in the organization. Such reporting can beat even Stasi - the East German Spy Agency in the Cold War era.
• All government and private organizations in Turkey have been breached by them. For example, in Turkey 90% of the officers and NCOs are recruited from Military High Schools for Officers and NCOs. FETO cliques have been managing to put their students, sometimes the whole batches, into those schools by getting hold of the questions before the exams. So is the case with all public services- education, judiciary, police, administration, treasury etc.
• They have built a parallel state structure where the chain of command is maintained by them with their own hierarchies. For example, FETO Generals take order from FETO NCOs since the NCO has been appointed as the Imam of that base by FETO. They collect all the information in an organization, and give it to their folks to store them.
• With police, judiciary and media they can entrap any person they wish if they feel threatened. Examples are numerous. Blackmailing folks in high positions and rich businessmen are the norms for them.
• FETO folks can live in "crypto" mode even for 40 years. In an organization they communicate with each orther in an encrypted mode. They ensure that their guys are in all right positions. Everyone else is sidelined in terms of promotion, postings or benefits. It's like - ether with us or be our enemies. They are only activated whenever needed. The terrorist attack was one such moment when they were activated en masse.

The FETO terrorist attack was not to conduct a regular coup - it was the attempt to occupy Turkey with internal agents to materialize a comment made by Lord Carzon around a century back - "we'll keep Turkey intact physically but will kill her from inside" - in verbatim....

Bottom line: either Turkey destroys FETO or FETO destroys Turkey...

What you are saying is similar structure to freemasonry.

I am sure if they dig down to the highest levels of organisation, this will all merge into with bespoken other secret societies, the satanic new world order and the prophesied coming of one eyed individual.

 

[Hakikat ve Hikmet]

What you are saying is similar structure to freemasonry.

I am sure if they dig down to the highest levels of organisation, this will all merge into with bespoken other secret societies, the satanic new world order and the prophesied coming of one eyed individual.

One good thing about such organizations that folks are so morally corrupt and zombie-like due to always listening to commands from above that they can't take sound decisions independently. Push them little hard and they are all done. For example, they piloted F16s to bomb the presidential palace. But when the guards fired few stringers they all fled. Again, when their F16s were very near to the presidents plane they saw some F16s coming to president's aid, and again they fled. When their tanks were overrun by the common civilian folks the coup leaders escaped wearing clothes of covered women. IMHO, they can never be successful hard tasks which require boldness and quick decisions.

 

[Oguzhan]

I don't buy that.

You are right,misinformation
In target accusition,the other f-16 is shown as "friendly",not hostile or totally ally
But the targeting system is not connected with it and the trigger is always on pilot

 

[Sneaker]

this is Erdogan edition of Reichstag fire

It is very difficult not to think so.