Fesa Evrensev is one of the most prominent figures in Türkiye’s aviation history. He was both a military officer trained in the final years of the Ottoman Empire and the founder of Türkiye Republic’s first civilian aviation organization. His name is remembered not only as the first Turkish pilot to take to the skies but also as the first general manager of Turkish Airlines. In this regard, Fesa Evrensev is regarded as one of the pivotal personalities in both military and civilian aviation history.

Mehmet Fesa Lord, born in Istanbul in 1878, came from a family that witnessed the late Ottoman period. His father was Mustafa Cami Bey and his mother was Zeliha Münevver Hanım. After completing his primary education at Galatasaray High School, he turned to military education and entered the Imperial Military Academy on 2 March 1897. He graduated on 5 February 1899 with the rank of Second Lieutenant and joined the Ottoman Army.

Between 1899 and 1908, he served as an aide-de-camp in the 2nd and 6th Cavalry Regiments and held various positions in the Cavalry Department. In 1908, he was appointed to the 5th Unit Command of the 1st Cavalry Regiment and began his service in Istanbul.

At the head of the aircraft was Fesa Evrensev. (Image, AI-generated).

At the beginning of the 20th century, aviation activities that were gaining momentum globally also influenced the Ottoman State. Ottoman officers, including Mustafa Kemal Bey (Atatürk), who observed the Picardie Maneuvers in 1910, noted the strategic impact of aircraft in warfare. Similarly, the Italian use of aircraft during the Tripoli War directed the Ottoman Empire’s attention toward aviation.

By order of the Minister of War, Mahmut Şevket Pasha, it was decided in 1911 to send two officers for flight training in France.

After examinations, Captain Mehmet Fesa Bey and Second Lieutenant Yusuf Kenan Bey were selected for this training. Fesa Bey completed an eight-month rigorous course at the Bleriot Aircraft Factory flight school in France and graduated on 21 February 1912, receiving his diploma along with French flight license number 780 and the first Turkish Air Force pilot license. Thus, he officially earned the title of “first Turkish flight pilot.”

Fesa Evrensev’s Aviation Memoirs. (Image, AI-generated).

In 1912, upon returning to Türkiye, Fesa Bey assumed duties at the Tayyare Mektebi established in Yeşilköy. On 26 April 1912, he performed the first flight in Turkish skies by a Turkish pilot, using a Deperdussin aircraft. This flight is now commemorated annually as Pilot Day. During the Balkan Wars of the same year, he contributed to the army’s command and logistics through aerial reconnaissance missions.

During World War I, Fesa Bey was deployed to the Caucasus Front. The ship he was aboard was sunk by Russian forces. As a result of this event, Fesa Bey was captured and remained a prisoner of war in Siberia for six years. He returned to Türkiye in 1920.

After his release from captivity, Fesa Bey joined the National Struggle and rendered significant service, particularly on the East Front. After the proclamation of the Republic, he retired with the rank of Major and served as a short duration interpreter.

Portrait of Fesa Evrensev. (Image, AI-generated).

During the establishment of Türkiye Republic’s civilian aviation organization, Fesa Evrensev was appointed as the first general manager of the newly founded State Airlines Operation (today’s Turkish Airlines) in 1933. He held this position for six years, establishing the institution’s first flight network and laying the foundations of civil aviation in Türkiye.

Fesa Evrensev died in Istanbul in 1951. His name continues to be honored in numerous institutions, schools, and streets across Türkiye. The first Turkish flight he accomplished was not merely a technological achievement; it also symbolized the nation’s modernization efforts.