In my quest to learn more about my adopted country, I often delve into its history books. Events and people of the past played a huge part in the formation of Turkey that we see today. I understand more about the different cultures within the country, if I know the path that generations of their families have followed.

While learning about the history, it is certain that Mustafa Kemal Ataturk will be mentioned. He was the founder of the country and the Turkey that I know today is credited to him. Not often mentioned though, is his family and more specifically his adopted daughter Sabiha Gökçen.

Who Was Sabiha Gökçen?

Her lasting legacy was as the world’s first female fighter pilot but it was a simple twist of fate that set her on that path because Sabiha was not Ataturk’s blood daughter.

In 1925, he adopted her after a visit to her school in Bursa. Her father had previously been exiled from the country and the lack of a male figure in the family made living conditions hard.

Her eagerness to continue her education is perhaps what made her stand out among thousands of other children who were also living in poor conditions. The country had just finished fighting the war of independence and many male figures were missing from families.

Readers who believe in unknown forces within our lives would simply call it her destiny and if this was true, her path was already mapped out for her at the tender age of 12.

Taking to the Skies

It cannot be said that Sabiha received special treatment because of her connection with Ataturk. She attended the same fighter pilot courses in Ankara and Russia as any other male was required to do so.

In 1936, at the young age of 23, she was stationed in Eskisehir and various missions earned her a name in the history books. She would carry on flying until 1964 and by then had completed more than 8000 hours of flying time. She also went on to train other females to become fighter pilots.

Her Legacy

To date, she has an Istanbul airport named after her. She also wrote a book called “A Life Along the Path of Atatürk“. 1n 1996, the United States Air Force called her one of 20 Greatest Aviators in History.

In 2001, Sabiha Gökçen passed away with the knowledge that she had lived a rich life. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk gave great importance to the advancement of women at a time when the rest of the world was still confining them to the kitchen.

However to personally change the course of Sabiah’s life by taking her under his wing, he helped her to achieve the impossible. Sabih became the symbol of a new Turkey that was being offered to its female population.

Sabiha Gökçen airport in Istanbul

Mini Tour of Istanbul

Five days of exploration in the cosmopolitan city of Istanbul. See all the major sites like Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque and the Bosphorus. About this tour…