A big thank you from Turkey to all spotters!

[navygm]

A really big thank you to the Turk Hava Kuvvetleri for their hospitality in the base...they were so kind with us spotters...
the only pity there is, that there was some absence from the Turkish aircraft, like T-37's and the large amount of F-5's they have...
but overall this was one of the best spotting days in europe

[Aviation PhotoCrew]

thanks for all the kind comments folks, very appreciated. The succesfull spotterdays could indeed open the door to basevisits/spotterdays in an excercise like "anatolian eagle"

and for the unkind comments...oh well, I've been doing this now for 24 years, so it's hardly a surprise that some dutch guys are simply never happy: I've learned to live with it.
Put them in a C295 with an open ramp; fly them a formation with an Iranian Tomcat, Laos Mig 21, North Korean Mig-29, Algerian Su-27 and most likely they will whine "...oh too bad there is no Syrian Mig-25..."

I could have done it the véry easy way, and stick with the decisive advise of the Turkish media office to cancel the spotterdays, now that would have earned me some credit, right ?

And for some shameless publicity now: the 'airshow formation' was flown to produce photos for the EAC calendar ( not for sale ) and indeed our new book "Aviation Photography!" ; worldwide distribution from august, with the work of 30 photographers and introduction by Katsu Tokunaga....I guess you can call that 'personal' everyone in there is indeed a personal friend of mine

greetz, Eric

[CBR]

so it's hardly a surprise that some dutch guys are simply never happy

Again a nice salespitch but my question why you decided not to let us know that no T-37 and T-38 activities were taking place (although you must have had this info) remains a mystery ... I could try to make some suggestions but will refrain.

So than the easiest way out is making some of us look dissatisfied. No ... not with the overall result but only about your poor communication leading up to the show.

Never mind you seem to have enough important friends and blind followers ...

[Hans Rolink]

so it's hardly a surprise that some dutch guys are simply never happy

Again a nice salespitch but my question why you decided not to let us know that no T-37 and T-38 activities were taking place (although you must have had this info) remains a mystery ... I could try to make some suggestions but will refrain.

So than the easiest way out is making some of us look dissatisfied. No ... not with the overall result but only about your poor communication leading up to the show.

Never mind you seem to have enough important friends and blind followers ...

From my earlier post:
"parking space for participants meant moving T-37's etc to Kaglic, so no surprises here for me. Anyone can check Google Earth."

And an other poster wrote:
"Anyone expecting to see loads of operational flying a day before a major airshow, should get a reality check. Really."

It's really not that difficult

Hans.

[CBR]

It's really not that difficult

Hans.

You're right Hans, so is getting on the internet, answering questions and sharing & updating info ...

[elenten]

Really this discussion is stupid!

I was really pleased with the entire organization, if you start to make these negative comments what you you think will happen? The person going the extra mile for all of us, by organizing this, looses motivation to do it again and we all suffer, so please stop whining and shut up.

Erik

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Key]

CBR, Eric has said what he wants to say. There is no use in pressing on with what you think he should have done. This is a typical take-it-or-leave-it case, regardless of who may have a point...

Erik

[CBR]

CBR, This is a typical take-it-or-leave-it case, regardless of who may have a point...

Erik

O.k Key I understand ... am glad I made my point and I'll move on !!!

[mailman]

Really this discussion is stupid!

I was really pleased with the entire organization, if you start to make these negative comments what you you think will happen? The person going the extra mile for all of us, by organizing this, looses motivation to do it again and we all suffer, so please stop whining and shut up.

Erik

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

Well said Erik, I totally agree!!

We were invited to come to a spotterday in a country that never was extremely spotterfriendly in the past, we were allowed to spot outside the base before the spotterdays began, we had perfect photo opportunities (at most of the airshows you need more mm's for taxitrack and runway), and the quality of the aircraft was that of a RIAT in it's better days... So why complaining about the amount of T37's and T38's? Like other people mentioned before, it's just not realistic to expect that. We are so very spoiled these days! I started spotting in 1984 and at that time I couldn't dream about the places we can go and the co-operation of airforces we have nowadays...

I also don't understand why some people are bashing Eric; I don't know the guy, but after having a look at his photo's maybe jealousy is the reason...

Come on guys, have another look at the photo's you took last weekend and realise what an unusual event this was...

Greetz,

Arjan

[Hornet69]

Hi all,

I was at Izmir airshow for four days (friday until monday). Both spottersdays were well organised. . The airshow itself could have had more variaty. But that's my own opinion.

What I did not understand why the flypast with all those turkish aircraft was done only on saturday?

.... and all the complaining in this topic. I truly do not understand. Example: I am dutch and for our dutch airshow there is only one spotterday for a limited amount of people. I believe 400. No, we can learn a lot from the turkish organisation!

I think all types were present. Meaning many 'first time seen' for me . Also from the foreign participants I had many 'first time seen' .

I hope the turkish airforce is willing to open doors for us aviation enthusiasts and organise more spottersdays during for example exercises.

Grtz,

Edward.

[Erik_7Xi]

Typical dutch spotters though... before the event it was all moaning and b*tching because not everything is laid out on a silver platter. After the event, they are still b*tching because no operational flying took place in the days during the airshow and that most aircraft had moved elsewhere to make space... =censored= holy maria, some people here are f***** impossible!

A highly professional and respected photographer is involved in setting up an event in a country that has a very closed military - with an air force that has no experience with large airshows, spottersdays or even a grain of understanding for what we like to do. The THK did not needed to listen to his input, they did not even needed to bother with any of this at all.

The result? I could not make it but I see lots of awesome photographs of ... JORDAN F-16s.. PAKISTAN F-16s and JF-17 ... different types of the Turkish Air Force .. lots of demo teams etc etc. Do I see BACKLIT photos? Taking with 800mm against the sun because the THK put everybody a zillion miles away? Do I see shots of aircraft with barbed wire and fences underneath the wings, with people and children climbing across aircraft? Do I see airshow shots that I usually delete right away?

No.. instead I see awesome shots with beautiful sunlight, I see great taxi shots, great take-off shots, very nice shots of aircraft in front of shelters etc etc.

I can't say how much Eric had to do with the final result - but let's see... do you really think an air force with no experience or interest in spotters or photography would by pure and utter coincidence put people in the right spot, with the sun in the right place and without any obstructions or fences in the way? Do we really think that it's a pure coincidence that a country with NO experience in large airshows like these, puts up an airshow that should make the people behind the RIAT jump out of the window of shame? Not even to mention that the THK would allow a photographer ("who obvious had nothing to do with this awesome event") to organize a complex air to air shoot with all participating teams?

Had I been in Izmir, I would have rather bought Eric a whole bunch of beers and treat the man with some respect.

[nustyR]

.................knip...............

Had I been in Izmir, I would have rather bought Eric a whole bunch of beers and treat the man with some respect.

Halalujah

[Marco DeG]

Typical dutch spotters though... before the event it was all moaning and b*tching because not everything is laid out on a silver platter. After the event, they are still b*tching because no operational flying took place in the days during the airshow and that most aircraft had moved elsewhere to make space... =censored= holy maria, some people here are f***** impossible!

A highly professional and respected photographer is involved in setting up an event in a country that has a very closed military - with an air force that has no experience with large airshows, spottersdays or even a grain of understanding for what we like to do. The THK did not needed to listen to his input, they did not even needed to bother with any of this at all.

The result? I could not make it but I see lots of awesome photographs of ... JORDAN F-16s.. PAKISTAN F-16s and JF-17 ... different types of the Turkish Air Force .. lots of demo teams etc etc. Do I see BACKLIT photos? Taking with 800mm against the sun because the THK put everybody a zillion miles away? Do I see shots of aircraft with barbed wire and fences underneath the wings, with people and children climbing across aircraft? Do I see airshow shots that I usually delete right away?

No.. instead I see awesome shots with beautiful sunlight, I see great taxi shots, great take-off shots, very nice shots of aircraft in front of shelters etc etc.

I can't say how much Eric had to do with the final result - but let's see... do you really think an air force with no experience or interest in spotters or photography would by pure and utter coincidence put people in the right spot, with the sun in the right place and without any obstructions or fences in the way? Do we really think that it's a pure coincidence that a country with NO experience in large airshows like these, puts up an airshow that should make the people behind the RIAT jump out of the window of shame? Not even to mention that the THK would allow a photographer ("who obvious had nothing to do with this awesome event") to organize a complex air to air shoot with all participating teams?

Had I been in Izmir, I would have rather bought Eric a whole bunch of beers and treat the man with some respect.

[Mickey312]

He doesn't like beer, buy him a Coke instead .

[wizard 51]

Enjoyed the event very much and like said there could have been a few improvements.
The based flying stuff flying from the home base would have been great but hey ho.
The 2 T38s parked outside the HAS was very nice and thanks to the Typical Dutch chaps who asked for the Tags to be removed as i was passing on the way out

Any one get a photo of the rumoured charge of the crowd when the Turk 16 tried to taxi?
We wondered outside what had happened before the French took off.

The photos ive seen of the motorway outside on show Days took some believing with the Road at a standstill like a earthquake had hit it!

Lastly the fictious Departures Day time sheet with no Turk movements mentioned..............
Made everyone sweat a bit before the F4s taxied

All in all a great few Days away with great weather and a good view on and off the base
Had a great time

Cheers Rich