The Legendary F-4E Phantoms operated by the Turkish Air Force roar through the valleys of Eskişehir as it celebrates the achievements and legacy of the Phantom, highlighting its contributions to Turkey’s defense and aviation history. The celebration event took place on the second weekend of November and was followed by a spectacular elephant walk demonstration at Eskişehir Air Base (Eskişehir Hava Üssü).
The F-4E Terminator 2020 is an advanced version of the F-4 Phantom II, a multi-purpose fighter aircraft originally developed by McDonnell Douglas for the Republic of Turkey Air Force. The F-4 Phantom became operational in the 1960s and became renowned for its versatility and effectiveness in air combat, ground attack, and reconnaissance missions.
The Terminator 2020 update includes advanced avionics packages, such as a digital fly-by-wire flight control system, advanced radar with improved target acquisition, and new electronic warfare systems.
Advanced sensors are part of the aircraft, improving situational awareness and allowing more target tracking and engagement in diverse combat environments.
Back in Eskişehir, phantom enthusiasts were treated with F-4E serial number 77-0303, painted in an astonishing flag scheme, with the founding father of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk featured on the vertical stabilizer.
The F-4 Phantom II was part of the Turkish Air Force in the early 1970s and has remained an active combatant in a variety of military operations since then. The Turkish Phantom has been progressively updated and modified year after year in order to enhance its performance, adding avionics improvements and compatibility with newer-fangled weapons systems. The platform has played a critical part in upgrading the aerial defense capabilities of Turkey and participated in massive training exercises, NATO operations, and air policing duties.
The upgraded Terminator model implies that aging fleets must be adapted to meet the demands of contemporary air warfare so that they remain effective in an age of high-tech innovation.
The Turkish Phantoms were expected to be retired from service in 2020; however, they continue to operate to this day, making Turkey one of the last three operators of this aircraft model. The other two operators are Greece and Iran.
Phantom enthusiasts will have a limited opportunity to witness this engineering marvel before it is completely phased out of service. We would like to thank the Turkish Air Force for organizing such a spectacular display, and we hope to return to Turkey soon to see the Phantom roar through the skies once again.
