Özdemir Bayraktar: An AKINCI Passed Through This World (Documentary)

Özdemir Bayraktar: A Pioneer of This World, one of the leading figures of Türkiye's National Technology Initiative and Baykar's Founder and Honorary President Senior Engineer Özdemir Bayraktar's life, struggle, and role in Türkiye's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) journey are the focus of this biographical documentary. The documentary's special premiere was held on 7 February 2026 at the Baykar Technology Özdemir Bayraktar National Technology Center.

^{Poster of the documentary Özdemir Bayraktar: A Pioneer of This World. - (Baykar)}

Made in memory of Özdemir Bayraktar following his passing, the documentary explores his life story, passion for engineering, and unwavering commitment to the ideal of a "Fully Independent Türkiye," spanning from childhood to his death.

The documentary has a runtime of 1 hour 30 minutes. It was released on 7 February 2026 on D-Smart GO, TRT Belgesel, tabii, Tivibu, GQ TV, and Baykar's official digital channels.

Its promotion was led by Selçuk Bayraktar with the phrase "Traces of an honorable life," while Baykar's corporate account described it as "The story of a dream, a belief, and a journey."

The documentary presents Özdemir Bayraktar's life through a chronological and thematic narrative. The story begins in childhood and follows his journey through engineering education, industrial activities, and his work in unmanned aerial vehicles.

The documentary opens with references to the most intense periods of Türkiye's fight against terrorism and the martyrs who fell in service. In particular, it recalls Lieutenant Colonel Melih Gülova, a close colleague of Özdemir Bayraktar who was killed in action, emphasizing that the core motivation behind developing this technology was the protection of soldiers' lives and deep patriotism.

The narrative then turns to the past, detailing Özdemir Bayraktar's childhood in Sarıyer and Garipçe, his upbringing in a fishing family, his early fascination with model airplanes, and his mechanical engineering studies at Istanbul Technical University. It highlights his innate inclination toward machines and electronics, his industrial background, and his disciplined work ethic even at a young age.

The documentary covers the establishment of Baykar Makina before the UAV projects began. It recounts how Özdemir Bayraktar founded the company in 1983 to serve the automotive supply industry. The company was initially launched in Bayrampaşa with only one drill and one lathe, and broken machinery was repaired and put back into production.

Thanks to Özdemir Bayraktar's meticulous standards, a level of trust developed at the Uzel factory where parts were supplied: "If it comes from Baykar, no inspection is needed—just put it directly in the bin."

The narrative shifts to Özdemir Bayraktar's amateur interest in piloting and how, while flying model airplanes with his children, he conceived the idea: "We can build this aircraft ourselves." This section describes how, after failing to secure external support, the family decided to develop the project entirely with their own resources. It recounts the challenging conditions under which the first prototypes (Çaldıran/Dedem) were flown.

The documentary emphasizes that UAV projects were not developed solely in laboratory environments but through direct collaboration with military units in the field. It details Özdemir Bayraktar's time spent alongside military personnel in Şırnak, Gabar, and Cudi regions. It also includes evaluations comparing the technical and operational shortcomings of foreign-made Heron UAVs with the advantages of domestically produced systems.

The documentary highlights bureaucratic obstacles encountered during the project. It recounts attempts by officials to avoid documenting failures during the 2009 Sinop flight demonstrations, including dismissive remarks and efforts to halt the project. It also describes how the intense stress affected Özdemir Bayraktar's health: he suffered a ruptured aorta while at sea and narrowly escaped death, yet returned to work as soon as he recovered.

This section describes how the fruits of the struggle were reaped. It covers the arming of UAVs (SİHA), successes in counter-terrorism operations (such as Trench and Afrin), and achievements beyond national borders (such as in Nagorno-Karabakh). It emphasizes victories against those who claimed "you cannot do it" and Türkiye's rise to global leadership in this field.

The final section of the documentary focuses on Özdemir Bayraktar's human side: his aversion to VIP treatment, his sincerity, his humor (including the story of the "bomb dog"), his secret charitable acts (funding water wells for soldiers and scholarships for students), and his deep commitment to education (TEKNOFEST).

The documentary concludes with an emotional and spiritual tone, highlighting how Özdemir Bayraktar continued to monitor projects even from his hospital bed, how he took his last breath while the Yasin Surah was being recited, and how he left behind the enduring legacy of a "Fully Independent Türkiye."

The documentary is built around testimonies from those who knew Özdemir Bayraktar closely. His sons Haluk and Selçuk Bayraktar offer insights into his work discipline and engineering approach. His wife Canan Bayraktar and brother Salih Bayraktar share personal memories and family life anecdotes.

Commanders and soldiers who worked alongside Özdemir Bayraktar in counter-terrorism zones recount field operations and his time spent with military units. These accounts highlight how, as a civilian engineer, he worked under the same conditions as soldiers. Baykar employees and former colleagues describe his approach to production processes, his attention to detail, and his unique work methods.