The Early Years of Aviation with the Narration of Vecihi Hürkuş
Turkish aviation history; It carries memories that are old enough to accelerate from the 14th century and mature enough to embellish a bright past that befits the Turkish name with interesting initiatives. Because I believe in this fact, I don't even feel the need to look at the legendary pages of world aviation history. What is described as world aviation history; He begins by writing that in the 16th century, Leonardo da Vinci thought that humans could fly, but when he realized that human power would not be enough, he gave up the attempt.
Talking about the initiative of an Englishman in the 18th century, they point out that this initiative is essential to national aviation studies, although they have no actual experience on this path.
Half a century after this date, they are given the title of the first flying man because he was cut off from the ground behind a car driven by a pair of wings made by a Frenchman. This date is 1867.
Again, 23 years after this date, German Lilienthal begins to make gliding flights with the two wings he created, and in these trials, which he repeated many times, he could not take the flight length further than 150 meters and felt the need for engine power. To confess here; In 1890, Lilienthal was able to fly and died while trying to add an engine to his airplane. This event is the date in the history of the world, when people began to work uninterruptedly, giving importance to aviation.
Now let's turn our eyes to the history of Turkish aviation for a moment. In Samarkand, master Feyzullah Effendi's flight attempt from the minaret of the Great Mosque dates back to the 16th century. We learn that this experiment resulted in death, but it should not be forgotten that, as in every branch of science, there are also victims waiting for aviation science.
After this incident, we learn that a successful flight attempt was made in our town of Of on the Black Sea coast. A Turkish young man named Molla Uzun Hasan from Of; He started his flight experiments on a pair of wings that he made by imitating the wings of the gull birds that he had followed and studied with deep pleasure since his childhood, and in a very short time he succeeded in crossing the slopes of the deep cliff Of Stream. However, according to the understanding of that time, he was stoned to death by the students of the madrasa upon the provocations of the bigots, who could not adopt this success with a national feeling, "This man is the devil. Kill him". This is a sad story of the town of Of even today. There are still people living there descended from this hero.
After that, we read about the flight trials that Ahmet Çelebi made with a different success from the 17th century notes in Evliya Çelebi's travel book, which is the most essential historical document of our country. This Turkish scholar, who earned the nickname Hezarfen, took off from Galata Tower after many flight studies in Okmeydanı and flew to Doğancılar Square in Üsküdar and landed successfully. If we first consider the history, then the situation and length of the flight distance, the magnitude and scientific significance of this dare will emerge spontaneously. Because even today, despite the high development of gliding, flying from the Galata Tower to Üsküdar by crossing the sea with a glider is a flight that will make even valuable pilots think about sailing.
Later, Lagari Hasan Çelebi's ascent into the air with fireworks on the same dates and his safe landing with a parachute-like device; Likewise, in 1850, the flight trials of Bebekli Nuri Bey, whose leg was broken, are not only valuable achievements of Turkish intelligence, but also proud memories of Turkish aviation history.
These events show that the attempts and flight trials of the Turkish entity in the aviation path are not to be underestimated; The history of the father of Turkish aviation is so old and documented that it is not searched in other nations than Turkish.
If these valuable initiatives and works had received support close to the importance given by foreign nations, it would be an undoubted fact that the name of the father of world aviation would remain a special honor in Turkish history today.
In this work, which includes the history of our national aviation as well as my service life, my only aim is to present the events as real to my readers, to explain our mistakes and omissions with all their elements, even if it is painful, and to warn the future and future generations as a sign of warning to the younger generations. But some people will not like these issues. Let me tell them in advance that the facts that I have explained in this work are a reaction arising from the state of our national aviation. Yes, the date we discussed the aviation case is certain. It is impossible to reconcile our situation on this road, which we started at the same time with other nations, in the technical sense. I will ask my readers to turn their attention to the War of Independence for a moment. Under what conditions did we wage that war! All Turkish people, men and women, without waiting for any invitation, willingly shielded the land with their bodies. Our aviators, who fight with broken wings, are poor.
He was struggling in the most painful conditions of the 19th century, but he did not fail to crush and smash the invading forces. Despite these conditions, at the end of the great victory, national needs were determined and national development paths were kept by establishing factories all over our country. But our hopes for our national aviation still depend on the industries of nations other than Turkish. For us, on the other hand, destroying and smashing every successful energy is like a habit type disease in this dormitory!
But it should not be forgotten that we live in a homeland created by the Great Ancestor and in a republican administration. The word of our father is our safest force.
"O Turkish youth, the power you need is in the noble blood in your veins." This is why I believe that the culture of the Turkish republic will prepare every opportunity tomorrow, if not today, and will establish the bond of love of nationality and the culture of revolution.
