Human beings, filled with curiosity from the earliest periods of life on Earth, have lived with a sense of wonder. This emotion has enabled humans to understand their surroundings and living creatures, leading to learning and gaining experiences. Observing the creatures they lived alongside, humans tried to apply certain skills and qualities possessed by those creatures to their own lives.
One of the most influential creatures on humans throughout history has been birds. Birds’ ability to fly effortlessly in the sky with their wings, their capability to distance themselves from danger, and the ancient belief that the deities resided in the sky due to these traits transformed the idea of reaching the sky and meeting the creator into a passion for flying.
Throughout history, humans have made numerous attempts to take to the skies using the resources available in their respective eras. Inspired by the wings of birds, attempts to create wings and fly using these wings became the initial steps of humanity’s journey into the skies.
Indeed, in history, in the year 1002, Imam Cevheri constructed wings for himself to be able to fly and jumped from the roof of a mosque. Although this attempt had unfavorable results, the words he spoke before flying have become part of history and served as inspiration to Leonardo da Vinci centuries later:
“O people, no one has ever made such an invention before. I will now fly before your eyes. The most important thing to be done in the world is to fly in the skies. I will do it too.”
Approximately a century after Imam Cevheri, during the reign of Sultan II. Kılıç Arslan, Siraceddin, who had converted to Islam, attempted to fly with a suit filled with air during the visit of the Seljuk Sultan to the Byzantine capital Istanbul. However, this attempt ended in failure.
Despite many individuals throughout history dreaming about it, initiating attempts, and even facing failures, Hazârfen Ahmet Çelebi became the first to successfully fulfill the dream of flying, which had been the subject of countless aspirations and a source of intense passion. For many years, Hazârfen Ahmet Çelebi performed successful flights using wings he had invented in Okmeydanı. He made his final flight against the south wind in 1630, flying from Galata Tower to Üsküdar Doğancılar Square. Sultan IV. Murad witnessed this event from Sinanpaşa Pavilion and rewarded Hazârfen Ahmet Çelebi with a bag of gold, but Ahmet Çelebi was later exiled to Algeria and passed away there.
Similarly, Lagari Hasan Çelebi, during the reign of IV. Murad, mounted a rocket on the night of the birth of Sultan’s daughter, Kaya Sultan, and flew into the sky, illuminating the city by detonating fireworks during his descent and etching his name in history.
In the subsequent years, with the advancement of scientific developments in Europe, Ballooning technology improved, and balloon flight became useful in both social and military contexts. Ottoman aviation history began primarily with ballooning activities. In fact, a letter published in The Times newspaper in May 1875 stated, “Although the Ottoman Empire is perceived to lag behind in science and art, the first successful aviation experiment took place.” The first balloon flight in Ottoman territory was carried out in the district of Özbekiye in Cairo. The adoption of aviation as a policy by the state began when Sultan II. Abdülhamid placed an order for a balloon from France.
Although balloons were used for military reconnaissance and observation purposes for many years, the advancement of scientific developments and the progress of aircraft technology led to a decrease in balloon activities, and they were only used for simple tasks.
The first flight with a propeller engine in the Ottoman Empire took place in 1909. Baron de Catters came to Istanbul with his Voisin-type aircraft and conducted flight demonstrations. This event greatly impressed the Ottoman authorities, as well as the public and the military. After this event, the Ottoman army became interested in aviation. Ali Fethi Okyar was sent to France and Enver Bey to Germany as military attaches to gather information about aviation.
As World War I approached, German officers, who were our allies, took charge of the administration of the Turkish Air Force. Captain Serno, in particular, served as the commander of the Air Force. The facility in Yeşilköy was expanded, and training for pilots and technicians was organized. Additionally, departments for flight meteorology and engine maintenance were established. During World War I, a total of 450-460 airplanes were used by the Ottoman Army. Air power was utilized on all fronts where the Ottoman State fought.
After the establishment of the Republic, the policies of state-building and strengthening the military necessitated a continuation of aviation activities that began during the Ottoman era. The leaders of the Republic recognized the importance of aviation, and in 1923, Vecihi Hürkuş and his colleagues manufactured the Vecihi K-VI aircraft at the Halkapınar Aircraft Workshop. Especially, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades emphasized the importance of aviation with the statement, “The future is in the skies.” During this period, Sabiha Gökçen became the first female pilot in Turkey.
In 1926, the Kayseri Aircraft Factory was established, and until 1939, 212 aircraft were produced. Subsequently, the Etimesgut Aircraft Factory was established, and from THK-1 to THK-16, unique projects and gliders were manufactured until 1950.
In 1933, Turkish Airlines was founded, and during this period, the Aircraft Factory was established under the leadership of Nuri Demirağ. While the state collected donations for the aircraft’s needs, Nuri Demirağ left a historical quote: “If you want something from me for this nation, you should ask for the best. Since a nation cannot live without an aircraft, we should not wait for this means of life from the generosity of others. I am willing to build this aircraft factory.”
Under the leadership of Nuri Demirağ, the factory provided the necessary aircraft production and infrastructure support for both the Turkish Air Force and Turkish Airlines.
During this period, due to the pressures exerted by the global system and actors on the Turkish state, the state began to adopt negative policies against Nuri Demirağ’s initiatives. Orders from Spain, Iran, and Iraq were blocked, and the remaining aircraft were sold for scrap. The factory and lands were confiscated.
All these events left a dark stain on Turkish Aviation History, and the Turkish State paid the price for all these occurrences with years of dependency on the aviation sector.
