NTM'15

The annual Nato exercise the Tiger Meet been held by the 192th squadron from the Turkish Air Force at the Konya Airbase. The exercise is running between 4th May and 16th May for the spottersday they choosed the 7th and 8th May.

For me the story is began in the last year when I have found the pictures about that Tiger Meet. I do a quick search on the internet where I find the http://www.natotigers.org/ website where you can find every important information about the event.

On the summer I enjoyed the good weather so I left it this things for a little bit but when the cold weather is come and I start spending more time again front of the computer I start thinking about it I searched again the website. In this time we already know the exercise will be done around early May in Turkey and now we can buy only one ticket for both day for 40 euros. (On the previous you can buy a single ticket for each day and each cost around 30 euros)

Around mid January the first informations about the exact date and how we can register and pay. Straight after this post I start looking for a plane ticket from London and a hotel for 3 nights. About three weeks later the registration is opened where I need tell my name and nationality and of course a contact e-mail address. When I done this I get an e-mail from them about the confirmation of the registration and a PayPal payment option.

After this I not need do anything only wait to the answer what will tell me I pass the security screening or not. Luckily in early April I got the message I passed it and I got my own ID number and they whised nice two days in Konya.

The Tiger Meet started for me on Wednesday morning at London Gatwick Airport where from I flew to Istambul and from there to Konya. On the plane I alread meet a few guys who had same destination like me. When I landed in Konya I just jumped into a taxi and went to the hotel. On the reception a very friendly and well English speaking staff waited for me. They show my room and after I take a quick shower and went into the bad because the base is opened at 8 a.m. and better be there earlier than later.

7 o'clock on the morning I jumped in a taxi and heading to the entrance of the base. When I arrived there it was about 40 people in the waiting area. Only half an hour left to the gate opning, dutring this time the numbers of the people is reached the 400. Till we waiting to anything is happening everyone telling stories and sharing information about their experiences about the previous Tiger Meets. I felt myself like a small boy on his first day in the school who just listening the "older" boys stories how the thing are going. I few guys told me I can feel myself lucky because this is one of that Tiger Meet where is the lowest number of aircraft type and air forces attending and in this case in the future I just can get better and better Tiger Meets.

Around 8 o'clock a military personel come to us and pleased to leave our bags on the ground and come forward a few meters. After this they checked the bags with a dog (probaly searching explosive materials). When the dog checked the bags he show what he think about the spotters and left it a "lovely" package next to the bags. When they found everything fine they called as in alphabetic order to the security check. Luckily my family name is starting with C so I was on the front of the line and I got the place on the first bust which is went into the base. Just before the entry gate the local Tiger pilots stopped the bus and tell to us when we have time just go to them because they heve some surprise for us.

When we get off from the bus we went next to the taxiway. We set up our spotter line about 20 meters away from the taxiway. Soon one of the local F-16 been towed front of us and parked close where we can walk close and take pictures about it. Once we start hearing some kind of engine noise but this is wasn't a fighter jet it was a normal airliner. A little bit later we heard againg the noise and now it was true fighterjet noise. 2 local F-16 is lined up on the end of the runways and soon the show has began.

When the planes was on the actual day's mission we had chance to look what kind of surprise waiting for us. It was a official NTM 2015 patch, a T-shirt and a notepad with a pen. And also in this hangar you can buy patches, t-shirst, keyrings from the other squadrons. In a other hangar was organised the food supply wher you can buy some nice turkish food and some refreshment and you can hide a little while from the sun. I don't spend to much time there so I got a really nice skin tone.

The Thursday went well, the weather was nice and good selection of the aircrafts went troug the day. Even we got two surprise plane. But for Friday they expected some rain. In the morning we waked up with hope to a nice day. On the morning everything is went nicely but around 11 a.m. the wind is getting stronger and we start see the first rain clouds on the horisont. About one hour later the storm reached the base with heavy rain. A few of us stay on the front line to the last seconds when the rain is getting to much and we must save the technics. Finally the base commander and the Tiger Meet organisation decided to finish the event ant close the base.

For me this two days was the heaven. I see that kind of planes close to me what I never or really rarely can see. For me this Tiger Meet opened a new phase in my life because I realised doesn't matter who you are in the civil life on Tiger Meet everybody getting one and try to help to each other with sharing stories or help to improve in the photography and of course new friendships starting. I think this is that event where every spotter must to go at least once in the life and try to taste the feeling of an airshow in a bit military and seriuos way.

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#NTM15 #TigerMeet #Turkey #KonyaAirBase