Sabiha Gökçen
First Turkish female combat pilot (1913-2001) · Turkey · Died at 88
Sabiha Gökçen is read about 1,002 times a day, in 55 languages.
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Something wrong?Turkey's first female combat pilot - and the world's - flew 8,000 hours and 32 military operations before most air forces let women near a cockpit. An orphan adopted by Atatürk, she made fighter aviation a fact before it was a debate.
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Father: Mustafa Kemal AtatürkAbout this person
Born Ćorović on 22 March 1913, she was orphaned young and became one of nine children adopted by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic. At 23, she earned her combat wings and flew into a category that didn't yet exist: the world's first female fighter pilot. Over her career she logged some 8,000 flight hours and participated in 32 military operations. The Guinness Book of World Records later certified her as the first female combat pilot in history, and in 1996 the United States Air Force named her the sole woman on its poster of the 20 greatest aviators. She died on her 88th birthday, 22 March 2001. Istanbul's second airport now carries her name.
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