Turkish Air Force marks a century of service

The 100th anniversary of the Turkish Air Force will be marked with a series of activities throughout the year, including international conferences, exhibitions, training, exercises and artistic and cultural projects. "Our aim in our 100th year is not simply to celebrate our age, but to generate trust and interest in the Turkish Air Force from citizens, especially the country's youth," the Turkish Air Force Command said in a press release. The year will be highlighted by various symposiums, conferences and meetings about Turkish, European and international air forces and space technology. The European Air Chiefs Conference, which is organized in a different European country every year, will be held in Istanbul this June. Istanbul will also have the honor of hosting the Global Air Chiefs Conference, with approximately 90 different countries invited. Established in 1911, the Turkish Air Force is one of the oldest aviation organizations in the world, and operates in the fields of security, peacekeeping, natural disasters, fighting forest fires, search and rescue, and medical transportation. Utilizing the latest weaponry and systems, the Turkish Air Force has the ability to reach anywhere in the world within 24 hours. Many innovations are being brought to the century-old organization, with Turkey producing its own fighter aircraft and setting its sights beyond the sky and into space. "The Turkish Air Force wants to be not only the world's leading air power, but also an air and space power," the Turkish Air Command said, adding that a reconnaissance and surveillance project, and early detection and communication satellites, are all important steps toward this goal.