Pilots at the 5th Main Jet Base Command in Merzifon celebrated May 19th with the youth

Merzifon 5th Main Jet Base Command opened its doors to high school students as part of the celebrations of May 19th Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day. Young students, alongside pilots, opened the Turkish flag and Atatürk poster in front of fighter jets and helicopters, experiencing the joy of the holiday.

Visiting the base in Merzifon, Amasya, and participating in breathtaking exercises involving fighter jets and helicopters, brave pilots addressed the young guests, saying, ‘Today we are flying the F-16s. Tomorrow you will be flying the Kaans and Kızılelmas.’

Students from Merzifon Fen High School and İrfanlı Anatolian High School, who attended the event organized by the Ministry of National Defense, were informed about the duties of the unity and the activities it carries out. The students who used the simulator of the fighting falcon F-16 fighter jet took commemorative photos in front of old planes exhibited at the aircraft museum.

They participated in the exercise with the 151st Squadron and Angel Squadron

One of the young people who had the chance to get to know the F-16 fighter jets within the 151st Squadron, known as ‘Tunç’, wore pilot uniforms, posed from inside the fighting falcon he climbed into. The young people also boarded the helicopter belonging to the ‘Angel Squadron’, known as the saving wings of the Turkish Air Force, and experienced the excitement of wearing military equipment and taking on a role in a search and rescue exercise that was not unlike reality. Along with security activities, the young people proudly followed the efforts of the teams that play the most active role in evacuation exercises carried out in minutes after disasters.

Hair-raising choreography

At the end of the event, pilots, military personnel, and students lined up next to the 3 F-16 fighter jets stationed on the ground opened the Turkish flag and Atatürk poster. The choreography, which was joined by the helicopter and completed by 3 F-16 jets flying closely above them, thrilled the students who shared the pride of experiencing those moments with their hair standing on end due to the sound of the aircraft.

‘As long as they fly in the sky, we are peaceful here’

Yusuf Coşkun, who expressed his joy of boarding the F-16 fighter jet, said, ‘Since childhood, my dream was to be a fighter pilot. This event greatly contributed to my dream. Riding the F-16 is incredible, a very beautiful feeling. It was an amazing experience for me.’ Betül Tekçam, who planned to receive medical education, met and chatted with a female military doctor at this event, stating that she aims to pursue a career in military medicine. Zeynep Ünal, who was amazed by the brave pilots’ performances, said, ‘As long as they fly in the sky, we are happy and peaceful here.’

‘Turkey’s future is in your hands and hearts’

Welcoming the young people and the Turkish nation celebrating May 19th Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day with great joy, Merzifon 5th Main Jet Base Commander Brigadier General Mete Kuş stated, ‘Atatürk, who gave this holiday as a gift to the youth, saw the bright future of Turkey in the youth. Turkey’s future is in your hands and hearts.’