A wax sculpture of pilot Sabiha Gökçen was once housed at the now-shuttered Madame Tussaud’s in Istanbul, Turkey—but you will see nods to her legacy during The Aegean Islands, Athens & Istanbul … perhaps as soon as you arrive at the airport.
Question: According to the Guinness Book of World Records, what was the nationality of the world's first female fighter pilot?
Answer: Turkish
To most travelers landing in Istanbul, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport is just a name printed on a boarding pass. But behind it lies the extraordinary story of a girl who refused to keep her feet on the ground. Born in 1913 in Bursa, Turkey, Sabiha’s early life was anything but easy. Orphaned and determined, she crossed paths at age twelve with none other than Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey. She told Atatürk she wanted to study at a boarding school. He was moved by her story, adopted her, and brought her to the Çankaya Presidential Residence in Ankara. Suddenly, the young girl with a difficult past found herself surrounded by possibility, her life taking a new course she could never have imagined.
Atatürk believed Turkey’s future was in the skies. In 1935, he brought Sabiha to the opening of the Türkkuşu (Turkish Bird) Flight School. When she saw gliders soaring overhead, something clicked. “Would you like to be a skydiver?” Atatürk asked. Sabiha’s answer? A fearless “Yes!” But it didn’t stop there. Once she started flying, she fell in love with airplanes and by 1936, she was piloting a motorized aircraft. At a time when no woman had ever entered the Turkish War Academies, Atatürk made an exception just for her. She trained at Eskişehir Aviation School, flew gliders in Crimea, and earned her pilot’s license alongside seven male students.
By 1937, Sabiha was flying bomber and fighter planes during military operations, becoming the world’s first female combat pilot. Her bravery and precision earned her the Turkish Aeronautical Association’s Medal of Honor, and headlines across Europe praised the young aviatrix who proved that courage has no gender. In 1938, she toured the Balkans, performing aerial demonstrations that left crowds speechless. Later, she became chief trainer at the Türkkuşu Flight School, mentoring other female pilots and inspiring generations to look up—literally. Sabiha Gökçen continued flying until 1964 and lived to see her name grace one of Turkey’s busiest airports. When she passed away in 2001, at the age of 88, it was on her birthday—March 22nd—as if even the universe wanted to honor her perfect flight plan.
Fun Facts About Turkey’s First Female Fighter Pilot:
- Atatürk recognized her potential and encouraged her to pursue a career in aviation.
- She flew for about 8,000 hours and took part in 32 military missions, including operations during the Dersim Rebellion of 1937, where she served as both a bomber and reconnaissance pilot—a groundbreaking role for a woman at the time.
- Sabiha Gökçen International Airport is the secondary international airport serving Istanbul, Turkey.
- Sabiha Gökçen received many honors for her amazing career including the Turkish Aeronautical Association's first "Murassa (Jeweled) Medal" for her excellent performance in combat.
- She trained four female pilots during her career.
Learn how Mustafa Kemal Atatürk shaped the face of modern Turkey during The Aegean Islands, Athens & Istanbul.
