Turkish pioneer Belkıs S̆evket becomes the country's first woman to fly in an airplane
In the annals of Turkish aviation history, the name Belkıs Sévket stands out as a beacon of courage and determination. On December 13, 1913, Sévket made history as the first Turkish woman to fly in an airplane, a feat that shattered numerous taboos and opened doors for future generations of women in aviation.
The day of Sévket's flight was initially scheduled for Sunday, December 12, but was delayed due to inclement weather and rescheduled for the following day. The flight took off from Yeşilköy and traversed approximately 200 meters, covering notable landmarks such as Şişli, the Hürriyet Monument, Üsküdar, and Kadıköy. The flight lasted around 15 minutes, during which Sévket dropped cards with words of support for a donation campaign.
The Women's Association, of which Sévket was a member, had secured a written permission from the Deputy Commander of the First Corps, Cemal Mersinli, for her to fly. This groundbreaking event was documented in an academic article titled "THE FIRST FLYING WOMAN ON ISTANBUL SKYLINES: MRS. BELKIS ŞEVKET" by Umut KARABULUT* and Sema DOĞAN**.
In the aftermath of her flight, Sévket attempted to secure a plane to gift to the Turkish Army through the Association. This bold initiative further solidified her status as a trailblazer in Turkish aviation and women's rights.
The military government exhibited photographs of Sévket's flight in the military museum after her historic achievement. The foreign press, including the Berliner Tageblatt, took notice of Sévket's daring flight, with the newspaper using the phrase "with bold gestures that should be carefully considered".
Sévket's flight also had an impact on the broader society, as it marked a significant step towards gender equality in the aviation sector. The doors were opened for Turkish women to pursue careers in aviation, paving the way for future female aviators.
For more information about the role of Turkish women in aviation history, visit the Turkish Aviation and Space Museum's website. To learn more about Belkıs Sévket's life and contributions, visit her Wikipedia page or the academic article referenced above.
*Umut KARABULUT, Department of History, Faculty of Letters, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Turkey **Sema DOĞAN, Department of History, Faculty of Letters, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Turkey
[1] "Women Aviators", July 2025, https://www.thk.org.tr/turk_havacilik_tarihineyon_veren_kadinlar [2] "Belkis Sévket", en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belk%C4%B1s_Sevket, accessed on March 15, 2023 [3] "THE FIRST FLYING WOMAN ON ISTANBUL SKYLINES: MRS. BELKIS ŞEVKET", https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/417436, accessed on March 15, 2023
Aviation pioneer Belkıs Sévket utilized technology in her flight on December 13, 1913, as she dropped cards with words of support for a donation campaign from the air. The Women's Association, of which Sévket was a member, secured the necessary permission from the Deputy Commander of the First Corps, Cemal Mersinli, to use the advanced flying technology of the time.
