In the courtyard just outside the museum entrance are two aircraft - a CF-104G Starfighter and an OH-13S Sioux helicopter.
This CF-104G was built under licence in Canada for the CAF. Originally serialled 12733 it was one of 200 single seat CF-104G built in the early 1960s. In 1970 the CAF re-serialled their aircraft and this became 104733.
It served with 1 CAG operating out of the CAF airbase at Sollingen near Baden-Baden in West Germany. I saw this actual aircraft at the Greenham Common air show on 31.7.1976. At the time 1 CAG comprised three squadrons - 412 Sqd, 439 Sqd and 441 Sqd.
Canadian Starfighters were used for low level ground attack & reconaisance - their radar systems were not configured for the aerial intercepor role. Originally delivered in a shiny natural metal colour scheme they then adopted an overall dark olive green scheme and from about 1980 a grey & green camoflague design.
The image above is from the Canadian Armed Forces archive
CAF CF-104 operations ceased in 1986. Although these aircraft had accumulated many flight hours ( typically over 5,000 per aircraft ) they had also recently benefitted from an upgraded attack radar systym.
Turkey then purchased 52 former European based Canadian CF-104 comprising 46 singel seat CF-104G and 6 two seater CF-104D aircraft. The best 20 aircraft were overhauled by MBB in Germany prior to delivery with the rest being reduced to spares.
Former CAF aircraft 104733 was allocated to the Turkish 8th Jet Airbase at Diyarbakir in the South East of the country as serial 62-733 coded "8-733".
A plaque beside the aircraft states that it was passed to Turkey on 18.3.1986 with 5,408 flight hours. It was retired seven years later on 27.8.93 with 6,655 flight hours. During its service in Turkey it flew 1,247 flight hours averaging approx 178 flight hours per year during that time.
External Link to photo of CAF CF-104G 104733 taken in 1983 - the very same aircraft
Also in the entrnace courtyard is a former Turkish Army Bell OH-13S Sioux helicopter. serialled KK 10397.
The manufacurers data plate can still be found and read in the cockpit port foot well - this shows the c/n as 3959 and original US serial as 69-16381.
At odds with this is that up on the flight control panel is a Radio Callsign plate which shows serial 69-16380 - I can only assume that the flight control instrument panel has been switched at some point from OH-13S 69-16380 which I guess also went to Turkey.
If anyone has a listing of Turkish Army OH-13 serials I'd be interested, thank you.
Also at the museum is a former Turkish Army U-17 ( Cessna 185 Skywagon ) serial 13254 - this is within a southern courtyard and is surrounded by large shrubs.
