Teknofest Istanbul was held on the site of what became the new main airport for Istanbul. Known at the time of Teknofest as Istanbul New Airport, it was still a giantic building site, but some of the runways were completed and capable of accepting aircraft.

Held in the shadow of the new control tower, the first edition of Teknofest Istanbul was a celebration of, and showcase for, Turkish technology. For the purposes of this photo report however, we will concentrate on the aviation aspect of the event.

Most of the aircraft present at the show were operated by the Turkish military, government and police, a notable exception being a Royal Air Force A330 Voyager tanker.

Displayed in the static were singles example each of the TAI Hurjet training aircraft, TAI T625 multi-purpose helicopter, an F-4 Phantom, known as "Terminator" in Turkish service, Transall and A400M transports, a T-38 Talon trainer as well as Turkish Airlines Boeing 737.

The flying display consisted mostly of Turkish military assets, including Solo Turk, the Turkish Stars, a pair of TAI /Agusta Westland T129 ATAK helicopters, a Boeing CH-47F Chinook, Sikorsky S-70 Blackawks and a prototype TAI Hurkus-B.

I only had the opportunity to visit on one day of the event, Saturday, and on the day security was tight, with rumours circulating that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was going to attend the show. The arrival of senior military officers, politicians and eventually his wife, Emine Erdogan, all seemed to confirm the rumours. After a while, a Turkish Government Gulfstream G550, flanked by F-16s flew overhead. The G550 subsequently landed, as did a pair of the F-16s. President Erdogan emerged from the G550, while the F-16s, both of which were twin-sticks, carried senior military officers in the back seat.

The arrival, and later departure of the President provided many different aircraft to photograph... two F-16s, a G550, four Sikorsky S-92 VIP helicopters, as well as a Police Blackhawk, all these were in addition to the scheduled flying display.

Once the afternoon flying display resumed, the sun had come around so that the light was perfect. All aircraft from the morning display flew again, with a display line that was closer to the crowd than you would usually see at other European air shows, making the displays that bit more in your face. Proceedings were brought to an end by the Turkish Stars, trailing their red and white smoke across the clear blue skies over Istanbul New Airport.

A big thank you goes to Ozkan Uner and the organisers of Teknofest Istanbul for the invite to attend event, thank you all very much for making my visit to the event possible.