Bedriye Tahir Gökmen is one of the Turkish female pilots who were active in aviation during the early years of the Republic. In 1932, she enrolled in the Vecihi Civil Aviation School founded by Vecihi Hürkuş, becoming the school's first and only female student to begin pilot training. During the same period, she worked as a clerk (secretary) in a private company, continuing her flight lessons outside of working hours. In 1933, she completed her training flights and became eligible to receive her pilot's license (brevet). She was given the nickname "Gökmen" by Abdurrahman Türkkuşu, one of the parachutists of the period; after the Surname Law came into force in 1934, she adopted this nickname as her surname.
Interest in Aviation and Training
Bedriye Tahir Gökmen's interest in aviation dates back to her early years. According to her own statements, she expressed her interest in observing the flight of birds. In 1932, she enrolled in the Vecihi Civil Aviation School, opened by Vecihi Hürkuş in Kadıköy, Istanbul, paying a monthly fee of 1000 liras, becoming one of the 12 students in the school's first term and its only female student. During this process, she continued her flight lessons, performed her first solo flight in 1933, and completed 180 sorties by the end of the year. In 1934, she performed 66 more flights, making a total of 246 flights in two years and gaining 19 hours and 14 minutes of flight experience. She completed the training program in August 1934; however, a formal graduation ceremony and approval could not be held for various reasons.
Piloting Career and Licensing Process
After completing her training, Bedriye Tahir Gökmen passed the in-school exams in 1933 and became eligible for a pilot's brevet. However, due to the insufficient institutionalization of the civil aviation system at that time, it was not possible for this brevet to be recognized as an official license by the state. In 1934, Vecihi Hürkuş requested an examination committee from the Undersecretariat of the Air Force to approve the students' brevets. However, when the committee arrived at the school, the school's only operational aircraft had crashed shortly before, making a flight examination impossible. The committee did not grant a second examination opportunity, which resulted in the closure of the Vecihi Civil Aviation School. Due to this development, Gökmen's pilot's license was not officially approved; even though she actively performed flights, she could not be listed as a pilot in official records.
While undergoing flight training, Bedriye Tahir Gökmen, who worked in a state office, faced a negative reaction from some circles regarding her interest in aviation. Her superiors did not approve of her interest; consequently, she faced salary cuts and various warnings. She was later dismissed from her job. Some sources state that she had to suspend her flight training to avoid losing her job. With the closure of the school in 1934 due to financial and institutional difficulties, Bedriye Tahir Gökmen's active piloting activities also ceased.
Her Place and Contributions in Aviation History
Although Bedriye Tahir Gökmen's pilot's license was not officially approved, she is recorded as the first woman to perform a flight in Türkiye. This situation is considered part of the developments in women's participation in social life during the Republican era. An article written by journalist İffet Halim about Bedriye Tahir was published in the *Havacılık ve Spor* (Aviation and Sports) magazine on October 15, 1933, indicating her public recognition at the time. In her own written statements, she expressed that she viewed aviation not as a personal pursuit but as a social and professional responsibility.
Sabiha Gökçen began her duty as a military pilot in 1937 and earned the title of combat pilot. Sabiha Gökçen's role in military aviation holds an important place in Turkish aviation. However, this does not change the fact that Bedriye Tahir Gökmen was Türkiye's first female pilot. Recent research reveals that Sabiha Gökçen was the "first female combat pilot," while Bedriye Tahir Gökmen was the "first female pilot." It is understood that Bedriye Tahir Gökmen contributed to the professional representation of women in civil aviation.
Later Life and Legacy
Limited information about Bedriye Tahir Gökmen's life after 1934 is available in sources. There are no clear records regarding her death date. For many years, her name was not included in official historical accounts; however, in the 2000s, she became the subject of various academic and popular works. The Turkish Aeronautical Association refers to Bedriye Tahir Gökmen as the "first Turkish female pilot" among women who contributed to aviation. Steps have been taken to keep her name alive in some educational institutions; the library and reading room of Ege University's Vocational School of Aviation have been named "Bedriye Tahir Gökmen Reading Room."
