192nd Filo (Squadron)/ Turkish Air Force This squadron has been a member of the NATO Tiger Association (NTA) since 1980. This year they had the honor of hosting a Tiger Meet for the first time at their home base. Located just outside of the city limits of the provincial capital Balikesir, the 9th Main Jet Base was the focus point for this years Tiger Meet operations in western Anatolia. In addition, two other airbases were used for the AWACS (Konya) and two Turkish Boeing KC-135E Tankeraircraft (Incirlik). A total of 28 jets, nine helicopters and more than 300 pilots and technicians from tiger-squadrons participated in this Tiger Meet. In support, another 16 F-16s from other TuAF (Turkish Air Force) squadrons simulated Red Air for the Tiger Forces. Out of 385 planned sorties 370 were flown. All types of missions (OCA, DCA, SEAD, CSAR, Recce, Refueling, etc) were included in the exercise play. In addition to flying a COMAO all five days, the tigers also flew several morning supplementary missions (low lvl nav, range, EW, 2v2, 4v4).

Flight Safety as always had a very high priority during the Tiger Meet, this was driven home from the outset by Lt Col Idris Aksoy (42), CO of 192nd. After flight safety, standardization and interoperability were key points for him. 'A key to success of big exercises is to standardize procedures and train people to be as effective away from home as they are in their normal surroundings.' Aksoy also noted, that the participation of so many squadrons caused this Tiger Meet in Turkey to be a success.

Special transport - Quite unusual was the transfer of two German Army helicopters from Germany to Balikesir. While all the other participants flew their jets or helicopters to Turkey, the two Bo 105 helicopters of the German Army Liaison and Reconnaissance Squadron 300 at Niedermendig near Koblenz were partially disassembled to fit them each into their respective C-160 Transall. Just a few centimetres of space was left, even after exchanging the landing skids with smaller transport skids, taking off the main rotor blades and some lights and antennas on the lower fuselage. This choice was taken to avoid the long ferry routing.

Captain Romuald Galonska (34), detachment  commander of 14 German Army technicians and pilots already had some good experiences with the 'Tiger Business' during last years meet at Schleswig / Germany. Apart from the challenge to get the helicopters down to Turkey within two C-160s, Galonska sees the big advantages of an international exercise, like the Tiger Meet, in teamwork and cooperation, especially during COMAOs. With respect to Air Reconnaissance (scout /pathfinder tasking) and Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) of shot down aircrews, valuable training was accomplished together with Czech Hind and Hip (Mi-24 and Mi-17) as well as British Pumas (Westland HC.Mk1) and Turkish Cougars (Eurocopter AS-532AL). Fighter evasion manoeuvres were also flown against Belgian and Turkish  F-16s to test and train certain procedures to deny successful weapon employment against helicopters. The Jets in turn executed missions as slow mover interceptors, so that both sides could get the maximum training benefit out of it.

Observers - In addition to Fliegerstaffel 11 (Squadron) of Dübendorf/Switzerland, who showed up this time without their F-18C/D Hornet, Austria's 3 Squadron of Wing 3 (3.Staffel Fliegerregiment 3) came to visit the Tiger Meet with observer status for the first time since the International Air Tattoo in 1997. Sqdn CO Capt Michael Jagos (32) and three other officers flew in with two Saab J 105 OE jet-trainers from their home base, Hörsching, near Linz/Austria. They informed themselves about operational matters, that could be of great relevance with the introduction of the Eurofighter 'Typhoon' to the Austrian Air Force in the near future. As participating nation within the PfP-Program (partnership for peace), Austria is, like Switzerland, an important country for the surveillance of air space in central Europe. Captain Jagos is convinced, that a Tiger Meet is extremely useful for the exchange of ideas and to establish new contacts to promote international military cooperation. Having seen the Tiger Meet at Balikesir, he hopes to be present with his squadron on the next Tiger Meet.