To begin: Turning points in Turkish aviation history
- In 1910, a military delegation from the Ottoman Empire attended the International Aviation Congress in Paris.
- Under the leadership of Minister of War Mahmut Şevket Pasha, the first aviation unit in the army was established in 1911.
- The first pilot in Turkish aviation history was Captain Mehmet Fesa Evrensev, who became the first pilot of the Turkish Air Force and of Turkish aviation.
- The first Turkish aircraft, the Vecihi K-VI, was designed in 1924 by the famous Turkish pilot Vecihi Hürkuş.
- In line with Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s words, “The future is in the skies,” the Turkish Aeronautical Association was founded on February 16, 1925.
- The first civil air transport in Türkiye was carried out in 1933 by the State Airlines Administration, the predecessor of Turkish Airlines.
The legends of Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi and Lagâri Hasan Çelebi
Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi and Lagâri Hasan Çelebi share a few things in common: both are believed to have lived in the 17th century. The only information we have about them comes from Evliya Çelebi’s Seyahatnâme, their contemporary. To date, no other sources are known. For this reason, the narratives about Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi and Lagâri Hasan Çelebi are rather legendary.
Known as Hezârfen, meaning “a thousand sciences,” Ahmed Çelebi was skilled in various sciences and arts. According to Evliya Çelebi’s Seyahatnâme, he took off from the Galata Tower using a special device he had built, crossed the Bosphorus, and landed in Üsküdar. It is considered impossible that Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi flew the 3,200-meter distance from the Galata Tower by flapping wings in imitation of birds, using only arm and muscle power. According to today’s aerodynamic knowledge, such a flight is thought to have been possible only with a simple glider.
Lagâri Hasan Çelebi, meanwhile, was an Ottoman craftsman said to have flown using rockets fueled by gunpowder paste. This story, too, is based solely on Evliya Çelebi’s Seyahatnâme. The absence of any other source regarding the flight experiences of either figure, together with modern aerodynamic science, indicates that these flights are impossible. Even so, Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi and Lagâri Hasan Çelebi continue to hold prominent places in our history.
Aviation activities in the Ottoman Empire
The first aviation activities in the Ottoman Empire began in 1909. Hot-air balloon demonstrations in Istanbul and İzmir by a French inventor underscored the airplane’s importance as an invention. Following this, the Ottoman Empire sent a military delegation to Europe in 1910.
There, the delegation followed developments in aviation and attended the International Aviation Congress in Paris. From that point on, a new chapter in Turkish aviation history had begun.
The first Turkish pilots: Captain Mehmet Fesa Bey and Lieutenant Yusuf Kenan
We had now officially entered a period of active aviation, and we did not want to fall behind. In line with this, under the leadership of Minister of War Mahmut Şevket Pasha, the first army aviation unit was established in 1911. Captain Mehmet Fesa Evrensev and Lieutenant Yusuf Kenan were sent to the Blériot Factory’s flight school in France for pilot training.
If you are wondering who the first Turkish aviator was, Mehmet Fesa Evrensev was the first Turkish officer to train at the Blériot Factory’s flight school and to complete the program. He became the first pilot of the Turkish Air Force. Due to his importance in aviation history, Mehmet Fesa Evrensev, Türkiye’s first pilot, was honored by the Turkish Airline Pilots’ Association, which declared April 26 World Pilots’ Day in 2013.
Lieutenant Yusuf Kenan, who went for training with Captain Mehmet Fesa, also made his mark in Turkish aviation history as one of Türkiye’s first military pilots. After their training, these two Turkish officers brought the two Deperdussin aircraft the Ottoman army had purchased from France to Türkiye. As you can appreciate, these two names are among the leading figures in Turkish aviation history.
Women who shaped Turkish aviation history
- Bedriye Tahir Gökmen: Became Türkiye’s first female pilot in 1933.
- Belkıs Şevket: Became the first Turkish woman to fly in an aircraft when she boarded a plane departing from Yeşilköy on December 1, 1913.
- Sabiha Gökçen: Became the world’s first female fighter pilot. She also trained several pioneering women aviators.
- Madelet Reyal: Became one of the few female aviators to fly a glider with A, B, and C brevet licenses.
- Leman Bozkurt Altınçekiç and Şenay Günay: Became Türkiye’s first female jet pilots after completing their training with the Jet Training Squadron in Eskişehir in 1958.
- Yıldız Eruçman: Became the first Turkish female parachutist after jumping from a Russian R-5 aircraft in September 1935.
- Edibe Subaşı Kutucuoğlu: Became one of the architects of the Turkish Stars, the aerobatic team within the Turkish Air Force.
Yeşilköy Aviation School is established
Minister of War Mahmut Şevket Pasha had assigned Staff Lieutenant Colonel Süreyya Bey to oversee aviation operations. Süreyya Bey saw that pilot training abroad was quite expensive and was seeking a solution. For this reason, he first recognized the need to establish an aviation school.
They decided that the most suitable location for such a school would be Yeşilköy in Istanbul. The wind direction, the condition of the land, and its proximity to the railway made Yeşilköy an attractive location. Yeşilköy Aviation School officially opened on July 3, 1912. According to the plan, three course terms would be offered each year, with about 15 to 20 pilots trained in each term. Observers and mechanics were also trained there. After Yeşilköy Aviation School was evacuated on March 1, 1919, at the British request, the aviators relocated to Maltepe.
Turkish aviation during the War of Independence
During the War of Independence, new aircraft were produced by combining parts from different aircraft, thanks to the workshops established in Konya and Eskişehir. Built with local materials, these aircraft emerged amid scarcity. In these workshops, creative solutions were developed to repair aircraft that were war leftovers, brought from abroad, or captured from the enemy.
The foundations of Turkish civil aviation are laid
Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk did not say “The future is in the skies” without cause. In keeping with these words, which also guided the country’s future, the Turkish Aeronautical Association was established in 1925. Thanks to the Turkish Aeronautical Association, which later became known as “Türk Hava Kurumu,” the institutional foundations of civil aviation in our country were laid.
The following year, on April 23, 1926, the “Aircraft Mechanics School” opened to train the technical personnel needed by Turkish aviation. By 1929, the Türk Hava Kurumu had become a member of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the highest-level international aviation organization. We have now begun to expand our institutional reach as well.
Vecihi Hürkuş and the first Turkish aircraft, Vecihi K-VI
Vecihi Hürkuş is undoubtedly one of the most iconic figures in Turkish aviation history. He created both the first Turkish aircraft and the first civil aviation school. Born in Istanbul in 1896, Hürkuş volunteered for the Balkan War in 1912. After school, he was involved in a plane crash in 1916. Once he recovered, he entered the aviation school in Yeşilköy. Vecihi Hürkuş, who flew 102 different types of aircraft during his career, designed and produced the first Turkish aircraft, the Vecihi K-VI, in 1924. He did so using aircraft materials left behind by the Greeks during the war.
One day, someone on the technical committee said, “Vecihi, we cannot give you this license. If you trust your aircraft, get in, fly it, and save us from this.” Hürkuş saw it as an opportunity. On January 28, 1925, he made his first flight in the “Vecihi K-VI.” Although he was punished for the unauthorized flight, an important moment in Turkish aviation history had occurred. On June 17, 1925, Vecihi Hürkuş became the first person in Türkiye to receive the title of “Chief Aviator.” Was that all? Not at all… On April 21, 1932, he founded the first Turkish civil aviation school, the Vecihi Civil Aviation School (VSTM). Twelve students were enrolled, two of whom were women.
All of this is more than enough to make Vecihi Hürkuş an integral part of Turkish aviation history.
A businessman of many firsts: Nuri Demirağ
Born in Divriği, Sivas, in 1886, Nuri Demirağ was among the first contractors involved in building the railways of the Republic of Türkiye. Nuri Bey, who wove iron networks through the places he passed through, from Samsun to Erzurum, was personally given his surname by Atatürk for these works.
One of the most important figures in Turkish aviation history, Nuri Bey established the first private-sector aircraft factory in our country and produced both aircraft and gliders. Thus, Nuri Demirağ founded Türkiye’s first aircraft factory and produced the first domestically built training aircraft, the “Nu.D-36.” Before the Gök School in Yeşilköy, he also laid the foundations for a secondary school in his hometown of Divriği, which he called the “Büyük Gök Okulu.”
Women in the skies: Bedriye Tahir Gökmen and Sabiha Gökçen
Bedriye Hanım enrolled at the Vecihi Civil Aviation School, the first Turkish civil aviation school, founded by Vecihi Hürkuş in 1932, and never neglected her studies there. What she truly longed for was to take to the skies and fly. Bedriye Hanım, who became Türkiye’s first female pilot in 1933, had already taken to the skies before the Surname Law was enacted. After the Surname Law was passed in 1934, Bedriye Tahir adopted the surname “Gökmen” and completed 246 flights during her aviation training. She thus became one of the most significant figures in the history of Turkish civil aviation.
Sabiha Gökçen, the pioneering Turkish woman pilot, was adopted by Atatürk in 1925 and learned to fly in 1935 after joining Türkkuşu, which was affiliated with the Turkish Aeronautical Association. In 1937, she was awarded the institution’s “No. 9 Murassa (Pride) Medal” for being the first female pilot trained by the Turkish Aeronautical Association. As the first female military pilot of the Republic of Türkiye, Sabiha Gökçen became the first Turkish female fighter pilot in history.
1933: Institutional flights begin in the skies
When the calendars read May 20, 1933, the skies were the domain of the State Airlines Administration. During this period, when Fesa Evrensev, one of Türkiye’s first aviators, served as general manager, the State Airlines Administration had only 5 aircraft in its fleet. The State Airlines Administration was none other than Turkish Airlines, which would later become “the airline flying to the most countries in the world.”
The flag carrier also operated our country’s first international flight in 1947, from Istanbul to Athens. In 1951, with a fleet of 33 aircraft, it began flying to new destinations, including Nicosia, Beirut, and Cairo. The name “Turkish Airlines” was adopted in 1955, and under this name, the airline became a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
A skyward adventure crossing continents
It was time to open up to the world. Soon after, Istanbul Yeşilköy Airport was completed in 1953 and opened to international air traffic. From 1985 onward, the airport continued operating under the name “Atatürk Airport” and served as a global meeting point for many years, witnessing countless moments. Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), the global meeting point on Istanbul’s Asian Side, was founded in 1998 and opened in 2001.
A Turkish Airlines history full of achievements
As time passed and technology advanced, aviation also shared in this progress. In our country, we began to witness this advancement firsthand with Turkish Airlines. In 1958, Turkish Airlines added 5 Viscount 794 aircraft to its fleet, marking the transition from piston engines to jet-powered aircraft and opening a new era in our aviation history.
In 1961, Captain Pilots Zihni Barın and Nurettin Gürün made history for Turkish Airlines. After a 30-hour flight, the pilots crossed the Atlantic Ocean, ferrying two F-27 aircraft from the United States to Istanbul. The flag carrier, which had only 5 aircraft in its fleet and fewer than 30 employees in 1933, had grown to a family of 4,437 people by the first half of the 1970s…
The new center of aviation: Istanbul Airport
Istanbul Airport, which opened on October 29, 2018, has become the new center of aviation. From its architecture and technology to its infrastructure and the travel experience it offers, Istanbul Airport reflects a modern approach to aviation. Here are some of the standout figures at Istanbul Airport, the hub of aviation:
- 1 million square meters of parking area
- 76.5 million square meters of airport city area
- 53,700 square meters of duty-free space
- 181 stores
- 114 cafés and restaurants
- 330+ routes
Before completing its very first year, Istanbul Airport had already reached its 10 millionth passenger on June 2, 2019. By December 23, 2019, it had reached another major milestone, welcoming its 50 millionth passenger. In addition to its aviation awards and its status as one of the world’s largest airports, Istanbul Airport is also a major art center.
Parachuting in Turkish aviation history
Humankind had found other ways to take to the skies even before the airplane. Türkiye’s interest in parachutes began toward the end of the First World War. However, the first jump would not come until 1930. That year, Captain İlhami Bey, who was in an aircraft whose wings had broken off, was forced to jump with a parachute and made the first jump in Turkish parachuting.
In 1932, we purchased Irving-brand parachutes from England. We opened a course at Eskişehir Air Base to teach maintenance and use. The jump trials during the course marked the first planned jumps by Turks. In 1935, we made our first parachute jump. The first parachute jump in Türkiye took place on September 10, 1935, with an automatic parachute attached to Abdurrahman Türkkuşu’s back.
Abdurrahman Türkkuşu took off in a G-59 aircraft, successfully jumped from an altitude of 800 meters, and became the first Türkkuşu member and the first Turk to make a parachute jump. Yıldız Eruçman made the first jump by a woman on October 4, 1935, and Yıldız Hanım became the first Turkish female parachutist.
Organized parachuting in Türkiye also began in 1935, when the Parachute School was established under the Türkkuşu General Directorate. Since then, the school has won countless cups and medals in national and international competitions.
Frequently asked questions
When is Turkish aviation history officially considered to have begun, and with which event?
Turkish aviation history began in 1911 with the establishment of the first aviation unit in the army, under the leadership of Minister of War Mahmut Şevket Pasha. Captain Mehmet Fesa Evrensev and Lieutenant Yusuf Kenan went to France for pilot training, and Mehmet Fesa Evrensev became the Turkish Air Force’s first pilot.
Who is credited with the first rocket-powered flight attempt carried out by Turks in aviation history?
Although it is said that the first manned rocket-powered flight in aviation history was made by Lagâri Hasan Çelebi, a Turkish aviator, in the 17th century, this is generally considered a legend.
Who appears as the first female fighter pilot on the list of important figures in Turkish aviation history?
Sabiha Gökçen is the first female fighter pilot in Turkish aviation history and worldwide. Adopted by Atatürk in 1925, Gökçen learned to fly in 1935 after joining Türkkuşu, which was affiliated with the Turkish Aeronautical Association.
Why does Vecihi Hürkuş come to mind first when we say he is one of the most important figures in Turkish aviation history?
Vecihi Hürkuş is one of the most important figures in Turkish aviation history for several reasons. He designed the first Turkish aircraft, the Vecihi K-VI, in 1924 and, on April 21, 1932, founded the Vecihi Civil Aviation School, Türkiye’s first civil aviation school. Hürkuş broke new ground in both military and civil aviation in Türkiye, flying 102 different types of aircraft over his 52-year career and logging more than 30,000 hours in the air.
Who was the first pilot in Turkish aviation history, and where did he complete his training?
Captain Mehmet Fesa Evrensev was the first pilot in Turkish aviation history. Mehmet Fesa, the first Turkish officer to receive training at the Blériot Factory flight school in France and to complete it, became the first pilot of the Turkish Air Force.
What was the greatest contribution of Nuri Demirağ, one of the important figures in Turkish aviation history, to the aviation sector?
Nuri Demirağ, a pioneer of the Turkish aviation industry, established the first private-sector aircraft factory in Türkiye and produced the first domestically built training aircraft, the “Nu.D-36.” Nuri Bey also founded the Gök School in Yeşilköy and laid the foundations for a secondary school in his hometown of Divriği, which he called the “Büyük Gök Okulu.”
In which year and with a fleet of how many aircraft were the foundations of Turkish Airlines (THY) laid?
Turkish Airlines was founded in 1933 as the State Airlines Administration, with a fleet of 5 aircraft.
What was the first domestic civil aircraft produced in Turkish aviation history?
The first domestic civil aircraft in Turkish aviation history was the “Vecihi K-VI,” designed and built by Vecihi Hürkuş. The Vecihi K-VI is also Türkiye’s first domestic aircraft.
At which school did Türkiye’s first female pilot, Bedriye Tahir Gökmen, receive her aviation training?
Bedriye Tahir Gökmen received her aviation training at the Vecihi Civil Aviation School in Istanbul, the first Turkish civil aviation school, which was founded by Vecihi Hürkuş in 1932.
What is the name of the aviation school founded by Atatürk on May 3, 1935?
The aviation school founded by Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on May 3, 1935, is called Türkkuşu Flight School.
