Female Turkish Aviator Bedriye Tahir Gokmen Makes History
In the early Republican era of Turkey, Bedriye Tahir Gokmen made history as the first female pilot of the Republic. Born as Bedriye Tahir, she embarked on her aviation journey at the prestigious Vecihi Hürkuş flight school, a pioneering aviation institution founded by Vecihi Hürkuş, Turkey’s first aircraft manufacturer and pilot.
Gokmen's journey was marked by breaking gender barriers in the male-dominated field of civil aviation during the 1930s. She faced numerous challenges, including gender biases and institutional obstacles that were common during that period.
The Vecihi School itself was not immune to struggles. In 1934, the school requested an examination by the Undersecretariat of Air Force to approve students' badges. However, an unfortunate event occurred when the only active plane of the school crashed before the exam committee arrived, leading to the exam's cancellation and the committee's refusal to return. This incident, along with financial and political difficulties, ultimately led to the school's closure.
Despite not receiving official recognition as a pilot, Gokmen's contributions to Turkish aviation history are undeniable. She started her aviation training at the Vecihi Flight School in 1932 and received her aviation badge in 1933. However, her involvement in aviation led to her suspension from her salary.
Gokmen Bacı, as she was also known, was eventually fired from her job. The details of her later life are not well-documented, leaving a gap in the historical narrative of this remarkable woman.
For those seeking detailed and specific information about Gokmen's biography, professional milestones, and the Vecihi School’s history and closure, it is recommended to consult specialized Turkish aviation history sources, Turkish Republic archives, or biographies of early Turkish aviators.
Aviation pioneers, such as Vecihi Hürkuş, significantly influenced aviation training in Turkey during the early Republican era. Gokmen's aviation history as the first female pilot of the Republic is intertwined with the technology-driven sports of flying, as she started her aviation training at the Vecihi Flight School and received her aviation badge in 1933, despite facing challenges and institutional obstacles.
