Date:21/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/03/21/stories/2008032151761000.htm

Back Sabiha Gokcen: Turkey’s first woman combat pilot

K.V. Kurmanath

Ankara (Turkey), March 20

The International Airport was named after Sabiha Gokcen, the adopted daughter of Turkey’s Father of Nation Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. The Turkish leader adopted her during his visit to the Bursa region. Interestingly, Gokcen in Turkish, means belonging to the sky. She, indeed, developed a penchant for flying months after she got the suffix ‘Gokcen’. Realising her interest in aviation, Ataturk admitted her into the flight school. After getting an advanced licence, she went on to pilot over 22 different types of aircraft. She passed away in 2001, the same year when the airport was inaugurated.

People here fondly remember her as the first woman combat pilot of Turkey. When the Government built the second airport in Istanbul (the first one being named after Ataturk), it was automatically named after Sabiha Gokcen.