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Who is this early pilot? In Turkey, Hezarfen Ahmet
Celebi is generally considered the first person to have achieved
flight. Buildings, streets and an airport are named after him. But
very little information is found in the western European literature.
Clive Hart, in his book “The Prehistory of
Flight,” gives a directory of heavier-than-air flying machine
and briefly mentions this Turkish flyer. Hezarfen Ahmet Celebi made
himself wings like those of an eagle and attached them to the arms.
Launched himself from a
tower
He began with training flights, "turning round
and round in the air", then launched himself from Galata tower.
He flew several kilometres, landing in Scutari's market place, Dogancilar
Square. As a reference, Hart gave Evliya Celebi’s book “Seyahatname
1”, Istanbul A.H. 1314 (=1896) 670, and a Turkish encyclopaedia
of 1971.
I checked the University of Chicago library for
Evliya Celebi book “Seyahatname.” I was much surprised
to find copies of the original book printed in the old Turkish
language, including a translation of the ten volume set into the
new Turkish language, published in 1971. I also found translations
of parts of these books, available in just about every western European
language, on the shelves as well.
A dream |
