WDS: International team talkers

International aerobatics teams from Turkey and China will fly edge-of-your-seat manoeuvres, along with the much-celebrated Royal Saudi Air Force Saudi Hawks.  

The Turkish air force Turkish Stars (Turk Yildizlari) fly six Northrop F-5A and a single dual-seat F-5B painted in the red and white of Turkey’s national colours. The team, based at Konya air base in central Turkey, is a regular sight in Europe but rarely ventures to the Middle East. 

WDS show-goers will be treated to two manoeuvres – team specialities – that illustrate the skill of the pilots who fly these veteran aircraft. Turkish Stars' feet commander Lt Col Kemal Koyunluoglu told the media last year: “Our solo leader flies through four of the other aircraft in front of the audience's eyes, a manoeuvre that requires courage and is rarely seen in other teams.

“Another one sees the team leader slow-meet the main package of the other three jets, a special manoeuvre unique to the Turkish Stars, when the other three aircraft perform a roll.” he added.

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force August 1^st aerobatic team is making its debut at WDS too, with six Chengdu J-10s. Their presence here represents the 10th overseas show the team has appeared overseas. The most recent was at Dubai airshow in November and reinforces the commitment of China and its aerospace company to the Middle East.  

The aircraft departed their base at Yangcun on 29 January and were refuelled en-route to Riyadh by a new Xian Y-20 air-to-air refueller. The team made its first practice display three days later.