Sabiha Gokcen was, at one point, a poor orphan forced to live in the most horrible conditions. Sabiha continued to go to school despite many obstacles. Fortunately, she met Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1925. He was the founder of the Republic of Turkey as well as a father to many adopted children. Gokcen soon found herself joining the kind man’s family. She was able to complete all of her schooling in a number of schools and with tutors from around the area.
		Since she had been given a chance to pursue her dreams she decided to enroll in the Turkkusu-Turkish Civil Aviation School. From there she would become an unstoppable aviation pioneer. In 1937 she would spend a month as a bomber pilot to help end a revolt, making her the very first woman pilot in the world. After she retired from active service, she became a flight instructor until 1966. She also wrote a book entitled A Life Along the Path of Aturak for her father’s one hundredth birthday. Sadly, she died in 2001. An airport in Turkey is now named in her honor.
	Back							Next