Turkish Stars aerobatic team draws thousands at Belgian Air Force Days

The Turkish Stars, the Turkish Air Force’s aerobatic team, drew thousands of spectators with a stunning 45-minute demonstration flight at the Belgian Air Force Days on Sunday.

Flying seven NF-5 Freedom Fighter aircraft, the Turkish Stars delivered the longest aerial performance of the event. The demonstration at Florennes Air Base was accompanied by announcements in English, French, Dutch, and Turkish.

Following the performance, the pilots met with Turkish and foreign visitors attending the event.

Among the distinguished spectators were Türkiye’s Ambassador to Brussels Baris Tantekin, Consul General Onur Sevim, and Belgian military officers.

Speaking to Anadolu, Tantekin said Türkiye and Belgium are friendly allied countries with strong cooperation.

Citing last month’s visit to Türkiye by a Belgian economic mission led by Queen Mathilde, he said the two countries explored cooperation in areas including renewable energy, defense industry, connectivity, and digital transformation.

[1/13] FLORENNES, BELGIUM – JUNE 27: The “Turkish Stars”, the aerobatic demonstration team of the Turkish Air Force, perform during the Belgian Air Force Days held at the Florennes Air Base in Belgium on June 27, 2026. Performing before thousands of international aviation enthusiasts, the elite team piloted their signature NF-5 Freedom Fighter aircraft through a series of complex and daring maneuvers over the course of a 45-minute display which was the longest display during the event.

Tantekin said they are pleased to showcase the capabilities of the Turkish Air Force in Belgium, adding that the performance was the result of the efforts of not only the pilots but also technicians, operations personnel, and logistics planners.

Thanking the Turkish Stars for delivering a flawless display despite the hot weather, he said the approximately 300,000 members of the Turkish community in Belgium also took pride in the performance.

Turkish Stars Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Kursat Komur said the team was honored to represent their nation abroad.

“We are very happy to represent the Turkish nation and the Turkish flag in Belgium. We are proud to represent our country,” he said.

Team Leader Lt. Col. Hasan Kocabas said the Turkish Stars, known as Türkiye’s “national team in the skies,” represented the country with seven aircraft and would perform again on day two of the event.

Several pilots, including Maj. Mehmet Kilic, Capt. Sertan Akkoc and Maj. Sami Yalcin, thanked spectators for their support and expressed pride in representing Türkiye abroad.

Lt. Fatih Saglam, the Turkish Stars press and public relations officer, said the team had not only performed an air show but also showcased the strength of the Turkish nation and the capabilities of the Turkish Armed Forces.

He added that using French and Dutch, Belgium’s official languages, during the demonstration was a meaningful gesture toward local spectators.