ISSUE #2

Welcome to the Second Issue of Ironbirds MAG

It is a pleasure to welcome you back to the cockpit for our second installment. After the incredible reception of our debut, we’ve spent the last few months chasing the scent of jet fuel and history to bring you stories that define the spirit of aviation.

In this issue, we bridge the gap between legacy and the cutting edge. We take you to a Dutch helicopter base to witness the sophisticated, high-stakes integration of F-35 operations, exploring how the Lightning II is reshaping European airspace. From there, we shift to the celebratory skies of Denmark, marking the 30th anniversary of the Roskilde Airshow. Our team was on the scene to capture the magic through exclusive Air-to-Air (A2A) photography, bringing you closer to the formation than ever before.

For those who prefer their aviation history on the page, we dive into a cornerstone of combat literature. Our review of Robert Mason’s Chickenhawk revisits the raw, barrowing reality of Huey pilots in Vietnam —a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the soul of a rotary-wing warrior.

The Legend of Solotürk

Our cover story for this issue is one we are particularly proud of. We sat down for an extensive, candid interview with Murat Keleş, the founding leader of the Solotürk
Demo Team.

Having very recently retired from his distinguished post at the Turkish Air Force, Keleş opened up to Ironbirds MAG about his storied career and the monumental task of building a world-class demonstration team from the ground up. It is a detailed, behind-the-scenes look at the precision, the pressure, and the pride of the man who first put the
“Solo” in Solotürk.

Whether you are here for the tech, the photography, or the people behind the stick, we hope this issue fuels your passion for flight.

Blue skies and tailwinds,

Evert Keijzer / Boğaç Erkan
The Editorial Team
Ironbirds MAG