The Turkish Stars are transitioning to the domestically produced HÜRJET by gradually retiring their NF-5 jets. The transition process is being planned in phases with the aim of maintaining an uninterrupted display schedule and ensuring pilot adaptation.
A legend in the skies prepares for a new era
One of Türkiye’s most well-known aerobatic teams, the Turkish Stars, is preparing to enter a new era with the domestically produced TUSAŞ HÜRJET, while gradually retiring the NF-5 jets that have long been part of its inventory.
The gradual induction of HÜRJET into the fleet, replacing the current display aircraft approaching the end of their structural service life, aims both to maintain operational continuity and to move the team’s display capability onto a modern platform.
From NF-5 to HÜRJET: half a century of flight legacy comes to an end
The NF-5 jets used by the Turkish Stars for years served as platforms originating from the 1960s and transferred from various countries into the Turkish Air Force inventory. These aircraft, specially disarmed and adapted for aerobatics for the demonstration team, have operated under high G forces for a long time and have reached their structural fatigue limits.
HÜRJET integration will be gradual
In the new period, the transition process will be carried out with a phased plan rather than a one-time change. The main objective of this approach is to ensure pilot adaptation to the new platform and to guarantee that there is no interruption in the display schedule.
It is stated that HÜRJET, which has performed formation flights alongside NF-5s during test flights, has met expectations in terms of performance and has demonstrated a suitable profile for aerobatic manoeuvres.
A strategic showcase for domestic aviation
Developed by TUSAŞ, HÜRJET has become a platform representing the level reached by the Turkish aviation industry. With its supersonic capability, modern avionics architecture and manoeuvrability, it has become a strong candidate for aerobatic displays.
Target: uninterrupted displays in the skies
With the planned transition schedule, it is aimed to ensure that there will be no gap in the Turkish Stars’ display capability. The temporary joint use of old and new platforms will create a controlled transition process both technically and operationally.
