Aviation Pioneers

[Okeanos]

Let’s share historical events that helped aviation industry to develop. Posts shouldn’t be so long, easy to read, short/medium posts would be useful, if someone wants more detail can do deeper research individually. This topic will be helpful to remember and to learn more about the history of the aviation.

I would like to start with Chuck Yeager.

Who Was Chuck Yeager?

A fighter pilot ace during World War II, Chuck Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier , when he flew the Bell X-1 rocket 700 mph in level flight in October 1947.

Yeager later trained military pilots to become astronauts and served in various command posts until his retirement from the Air Force in 1975.

Breaking the Sound Barrier

Yeager was chosen to test pilot the Bell X-1 rocket in 1947. Naming the jet “Glamorous Glennis” after his wife, Yeager on October 14th reached a top speed of 700 mph at 43,000 feet, becoming the first person to break the sound barrier (Mach 1).

So in 1947, the world heard sonic boom for the first time and they were all surprised.

Sources I used:

1. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/yeager-breaks-sound-barrier
2. Chuck Yeager - Death, Career & Facts
3. A very short and great mini documentary.

[N908QD]

Very cool topic! I enjoyed reading it. :)

[Okeanos]

Hezarfen, The First Flying Person
also, The first trans-continental flight

Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi was born in 1609 in Ottoman Empire, and is the first flying person. He lived in Murat IV period, which marked the 17th century in Ottoman history. He is still quite renowned for his scientific works as well as his flight from Galata Tower (European part of Istanbul, Turkey) to Üsküdar (Asian part of Istanbul, Turkey) with his artificial wings.

The first flight of Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi was one of the most interesting moments in history and took place in 1632. Hezarfen, who completed all the works related to the artificial wings and decided that he could fly as a result of the drawings, climbed to Galata Tower, the highest tower of Istanbul at that period. People heard that Hazerfan Ahmet Çelebi was climbing to the Galata Tower to fly with the artificial wings, and they began to gather curiously around the tower. Within a few hours, the whole population of Galata was watching Hezarfen with curiosity from the street where the tower is located.

Hazerfen Ahmet Çelebi’s plan for his first flight attempt was to launch from the Galata Tower, catch momentum, and land at the Üsküdar Doğancılar Square from the Bosphorus. At noon, when Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi captured the wind, he threw himself into the air and completed the first flight in the history of the world from Galata Tower to Üsküdar Doğancılar Square . The flight, which was welcomed with the intense enthusiasm of the people, lasted 3558 meters.

Award and Exile of Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi

All details about Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi, the first flying person in the world, are transferred from Evliya Çelebi’s Travelogue. For this reason, there is much controversial information regarding this flight. However, when the other sources of the period were reviewed, it was determined that the flight was achieved and spanned exactly 3558 meters. However, according to some sources, the first flying person is considered to be Abbas Kasım İbn Firnas .

After the flight experience, Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi became very famous among the people. Sultan Murat rewarded Ahmet Çelebi with a pouch of gold. However, he also exiled him to Algeria, saying that “ This man is very dangerous and has evil forces. He can create problems for us in time. ” Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi, died in exile in Algeria in 1640.

Galata Tower Today

Source