Hezarfen Ahmet Celebi
Encyclopedia
Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi was a legendary
Ottoman aviator of 17th-century Constantinople (present day Istanbul
), purported to have achieved sustained unpowered flight.
relate this story of Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi, circa 1630-1632:
The title "Hezârfen" given by Evliyâ Çelebi to Ahmed Çelebi, means "a thousand sciences" (polymath
).
cites Busbecq, the Austrian ambassador to Constantinople 1554-1562, as recording that "a Turk in Constantinople" attempted to fly. However, if accurate, this citation refers to an event nearly a century prior to the exploits reported by Evliyâ Çelebi.
Evliyâ Çelebi's account of the exploits of Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi is only three sentences long (of a ten volume work), but the story has great currency in Turkey
. Other than Evliyâ Çelebi's report, there are no other contemporary references to the events.
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
Ottoman aviator of 17th-century Constantinople (present day Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
), purported to have achieved sustained unpowered flight.
Alleged flight
The 17th century writings of Evliyâ ÇelebiEvliya Çelebi
Evliya Çelebi was an Ottoman traveler who journeyed through the territory of the Ottoman Empire and neighboring lands over a period of forty years.- Life :...
relate this story of Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi, circa 1630-1632:
The title "Hezârfen" given by Evliyâ Çelebi to Ahmed Çelebi, means "a thousand sciences" (polymath
Polymath
A polymath is a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas. In less formal terms, a polymath may simply be someone who is very knowledgeable...
).
Single report
In 1648 John WilkinsJohn Wilkins
John Wilkins FRS was an English clergyman, natural philosopher and author, as well as a founder of the Invisible College and one of the founders of the Royal Society, and Bishop of Chester from 1668 until his death....
cites Busbecq, the Austrian ambassador to Constantinople 1554-1562, as recording that "a Turk in Constantinople" attempted to fly. However, if accurate, this citation refers to an event nearly a century prior to the exploits reported by Evliyâ Çelebi.
Evliyâ Çelebi's account of the exploits of Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi is only three sentences long (of a ten volume work), but the story has great currency in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Other than Evliyâ Çelebi's report, there are no other contemporary references to the events.
Site details
Measurements of the alleged launch height and flight distance are as follows:- The Galata Tower sits 35 m (115 ft) above sea-level, the peak of its conical dome 62.59 m (205.35 ft) above ground level and 97.59 m (320.18 ft) above sea-level.
- Doğancılar square is about 12 m (39 ft) above sea-level.
- The elevation change between the tower (takeoff) and the square (landing) is 85.59 m (281 ft).
- The distance between the tower and the square is approximately 3.358 km (2 mi).
- Glide ratio required is of 39:1
Modern era
- One of the three airports in IstanbulIstanbulIstanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
carries the name "Hezarfen AirfieldIstanbul Hezarfen AirfieldIstanbul Hezarfen Airfield is a privately owned airport for general aviation located in Çatalca district of Istanbul, Turkey. The facility, one of the four airports in Istanbul, is named after Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi, an Ottoman scientist, who had crossed the Bosporus flying in the 17th century as...
". - A feature length film, "Istanbul Beneath My WingsIstanbul Beneath My WingsIstanbul Beneath My Wings is a 1996 Turkish film, written and directed by Mustafa Altıoklar. It is a dramatization of Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi's reported flight across the Bosphorus from Galata.-Plot:The film takes place in the 17th century...
" (İstanbul Kanatlarımın Altında, 1996) concerns the lives of Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi, his brother Lagari Hasan ÇelebiLagari Hasan ÇelebiLagari Hasan Çelebi was a legendary Ottoman aviator who, according to an account written by Evliya Çelebi, made a successful manned rocket flight.-Account:...
, and the Ottoman society in the early 17th century, as witnessed and narrated by Evliyâ Çelebi.