2001 · Çandarlı Gulf, İzmir, Turkey
Çandarlı: a T-37 in a 'dogfight'
From the accounts: a bright object shaped between a funnel and a disc circled a Turkish T-37 trainer over the Çandarlı Gulf for about 30 minutes, 6 August 2001. · Illustration for uaptrail.com
When6 August 2001, about 12:30
WhereÇandarlı Gulf, İzmir, Turkey
Backing1 independent
Evidenceofficial records
On 6 August 2001 a Turkish Air Force T-37 trainer over the Çandarlı Gulf was circled for about 30 minutes by a bright object shaped between a funnel and a disc. The instructor told the combat operations centre by radio that it was 'officially dogfighting us'; radar saw his manoeuvres but no second object. He filed a written report.
Evidence, in date order (1)
- Aug 2001Turkish Air Forceofficialwritten report filed; Hürriyet said the Air Force was investigating
How plausible · High
A named instructor pilot reported by radio a 30-minute "dogfight"; the operations centre saw his manoeuvres and a written report was filed.
- ●●Access Instructor and student in the T-37.
- ●●No gain sought Nothing sold.
- ●●Character record Air Force instructor pilot.
- ●●Physical traces or official reaction Live radio exchange, a written report and an investigation.
- ●○Cost of speaking Named in the press.
- ●○Restraint Described live by radio.
Plausibility weighs how well an account fits where secrecy hides the documents by design, so missing records never count against it. Strength measures what is documented. Assessed 2026-10-23.
Claims
A very bright object between a funnel and a disc, with 'legs', manoeuvred around the aircraft for about 30 minutes: 'bu resmen bizimle hava muharebesi yapıyor'.firsthandSourced, unconfirmed1st Lt. İlker Dinçer, T-37 instructor, 122nd Squadron, via Hürriyet
High manoeuvring detected on his aircraft, but no second object on radar.firsthandSourced, unconfirmedRegional Combat Operations Center, by radio, via Hürriyet
Where
Çandarlı Gulf, İzmir, Turkey
38.9°N 26.9°E
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