Today in History – 16 February

Turkish Aeronautical Association is established

Turkish Aeronautical Association was founded under the name Türk Tayyare Cemiyeti (Turkish Aeroplane Society) by Cevat Abbas Gürer on February 16, 1925 upon the directive of Mustafa Kemal Pasha. One of the foremost objectives of the association was to establish an aviation industry in Turkey, increase public awareness about the militaristic, economic, social, and political significance of aviation, train the personnel and prepare the grounds necessary for the realization of these objectives, and “create a flying Turkish youth.”

Developing through the personal interest of Atatürk, aviation activities were also closely followed by İsmet Pasha. In the address he delivered during the inauguration of Türkkuşu on May 3, 1935, İsmet İnönü would point the importance of civil aviation and on May 24, 1935, as he opened the Sixth Session of Türk Tayyare Cemiyeti, he would state that air defense had now become the most significant element of international politics.

A symbolic indication of the importance İnönü attached to aviation was his application for a family membership at Türk Tayyare Cemiyeti on May 26th of the same year.