Who is Bedriye Tahir Gökmen?
Last Updated: 12/01/2025
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Bedriye Tahir Gökmen made history as Türkiye’s first female pilot in the early years of the Republic. In 1932, she enrolled at the Vecihi Civil Aviation School founded by Vecihi Hürkuş and became its only female student.
Bedriye Tahir Gökmen (THK)
How Did She Develop an Interest in Aviation?
- As a child she greatly enjoyed watching birds fly
- In 1932 she enrolled in the pilot training school in Kadıköy
- She attended flight lessons during her free time after work
Education and First Flights
- In 1933 she completed her first solo flight
- Within two years she made 246 flights and spent more than 19 hours in the air
- In 1933 she earned the right to receive her pilot’s license
Challenges She Faced
- At the time it was not customary for women to become pilots
- Some officials disapproved of her interest in aviation
- She was not granted an official license for her flights
Her Place in Aviation History
Bedriye Tahir Gökmen is recognized as the first woman to fly in Türkiye. Although Sabiha Gökçen later became a military pilot Bedriye Tahir Gökmen became the pioneer of civil aviation.
