The Ankara Air Force Museum is a museum owned and operated by the Turkish Air Force (THK), established to exhibit the military aviation history of Turkey. It is located in the Etimesgut district of Ankara, along the Istanbul Highway. The museum houses aircraft, weapon systems, munitions, and various documents and objects related to aviation that were once in the inventory of the Turkish Air Force.
Turkish Air Force Museum Sheds Light On The History Of Military Aviation (AA)
Historical Development
The establishment efforts for the museum began in 1997 by order of the 21st Air Force Commander, (Ret.) General Ahmet Çörekçi. It was officially opened to service on September 18, 1998, with the participation of the 22nd Air Force Commander, (Ret.) General İlhan Kılıç, and Turkey's first female fighter pilot, Sabiha Gökçen. This museum is the second of its kind established by the Turkish Air Force.
Museum Structure and Exhibits
The museum consists of a 62,321-square-meter open-air exhibition area and a 2,000-square-meter indoor exhibition area. It presents a rich collection classified with a contemporary museology approach to visitors.
Open-Air Exhibition Area
The open-air exhibition area hosts various jet, training, and transport aircraft that served in the Turkish Air Force, as well as a helicopter. This area also displays MiG-19 (Shenyang J-6), MiG-17 (PZL-Mielec Lim-6), and MiG-21MF model aircraft, which were donated by the air forces of Pakistan, Bulgaria, and Hungary, respectively.
Other aircraft on display include the F-84G, F-100C, and F-104G, which were used in the Cyprus Peace Operation; the F-5A used by the Turkish Stars aerobatic team; and the F-86E used by the team known as the "Flying Swans". The TF-102A, the only delta-wing aircraft in the Air Force inventory, is also part of the collection. A replica of a Blériot aircraft, produced for the documentary "Altın Kanatlar" (Golden Wings) by TRT in 2001, is also located in this area.
In addition to aircraft, various ground and air defense systems, search and altitude radars, a "Nike" defense missile from the 1950s, F-100 and F-104 aircraft engines, air-to-air and air-to-ground missile systems, and various bombs and munitions are exhibited in the open area. At the entrance of the open area, there are busts and biographies of prominent figures in Turkish aviation history, such as Mahmut Şevket Pasha, Zeki Doğan, and Sabiha Gökçen. Furthermore, in a building named "Mavi Dünya" (Blue World), there are cockpit sections of a Lockheed T-33 and a Northrop F-5 that visitors can enter.
Indoor Exhibition Area
Indoor Exhibition Area (AA)
The indoor exhibition area consists of two floors. The ground floor features the "Turkish and World Aviation History Hall". This hall contains diorama models depicting the flight experiments of 17th-century scholars Lagari Hasan Çelebi and Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi. Additionally, the history of Turkish and world aviation is chronologically narrated through scaled models of aircraft and weapon systems used since the founding of the THK in 1911, along with photographs and documents. Half-scale models of Turkey's first domestically produced aircraft, the "Uğur" and the PZL-24, as well as a Miles Magister aircraft manufactured at the Kayseri Aircraft Factory in 1941, are also exhibited on this floor. The "Hall of Busts and Flags" contains busts and biographies of former Air Force commanders, flags of main commands and bases, various aircraft engines, and an F-5 aircraft cockpit.
The second floor of the museum exhibits air officer and pilot uniforms from the Ottoman era to the present day, flight equipment used by pilots, and pilot badges from various countries. On this floor, a corner dedicated to Sabiha Gökçen displays her biography, flight equipment, medals, weapons, and items gifted to her by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, as well as letters. The "Aerobatic Team Corner" describes the history of Turkish Air Force aerobatic teams , while the "Martyrs' Hall" features memorabilia of air martyrs. In this hall, personal belongings of figures such as Fesa Evrensev, who held THK pilot badge number 1; Cengiz Topel, who lost his life during the Cyprus Operation; and Ayfer Gök, the first female jet pilot martyr, are displayed.
Social and Cultural Activities
In addition to its exhibition activities, the museum also hosts various events. Aviation-themed screenings are held in the cine-vision hall. Furthermore, a Plastic Model Aircraft Competition is organized annually around the anniversary of the museum's foundation. The museum also has a cafeteria for visitors and a playground for children.
Visitor Information
- Location: The Air Force Museum is located at Istanbul Highway 12th km, Şaşmaz, Etimesgut/Ankara.
- Visiting Hours: The museum is closed on Mondays. Visiting hours for other days are set as Tuesday-Friday from 09:00 to 16:00, and Saturday-Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00.
- Admission: There is an entrance fee, and the MüzeKart is not valid. School groups are required to make an appointment and bring an official letter from the school administration.
