Istanbul Hezarfen Airfield
Encyclopedia
Istanbul 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 told by a contemporary historian.
The 500 acre (202.3 ha) airfield is situated on a peninsula surrounded by Lake Büyükçekmece
in the south and by the motorway O-3 in the north at 50 km (31.1 mi) west of Istanbul. It serves since 1992 as the first internationally acknowledged private airport in Turkey.
Its asphalt runway is 681 m (2,234.3 ft) long and 28 m (91.9 ft) wide. There are four taxiway
s parallel to the runway, a 2400 m² (25,833.4 sq ft) concrete ramp
and another 3000 m² (32,291.7 sq ft) paved one. The airfield's additional facilities are a motocross
circuit, a 120 m (393.7 ft) long model airplane field
and a heliport
.
flying, model car
racing, motocross racing, drag racing
(cars and motorcycles), car and driver testing and flight simulation.
In addition to "Istanbul Aviation Festival" held each year in June, the Hezarfen Airfield hosts also the open air music festival Rock'n Coke
, held since 2003 annually in September for two days attracting around 30,000 music fans.
The airfield is home to an aviation school training air traffic controllers, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter pilots. Turkey's only civil aerobatics
school and team is also based here. Another school at the site is for training motorcycle racing.
Other social facilities offered by the Hezarfen Hobbyland are a restaurant and premises for business conventions, fairs and exhibitions. Its public recreational area include also a playground for children, a skateboarding
ground and a 2500 m (8,202.1 ft) course around the airfield for jogging and biking in addition to a picnic and barbecue ground.
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
located in Çatalca
Çatalca
Çatalca is a city and a rural district in Istanbul, Turkey. It is in Thrace, on the ridge between the Marmara and the Black Sea. Most people living in Çatalca are either farmers or those visiting vacation homes. Many families from Istanbul come to Çatalca during weekends to hike in the forests or...
district of 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...
, 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...
. The facility, one of the four airports in Istanbul, is named after Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi, an Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
scientist, who had crossed the Bosporus
Bosporus
The Bosphorus or Bosporus , also known as the Istanbul Strait , is a strait that forms part of the boundary between Europe and Asia. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with the Dardanelles...
flying in the 17th century as told by a contemporary historian.
The 500 acre (202.3 ha) airfield is situated on a peninsula surrounded by Lake Büyükçekmece
Lake Büyükçekmece
Lake Büyükçekmece is a liman, formed at the point, where the river Karasudere flows into the Marmara Sea. Located in the south of Çatalca district west of Istanbul, Turkey, it is used as a freshwater reservoir....
in the south and by the motorway O-3 in the north at 50 km (31.1 mi) west of Istanbul. It serves since 1992 as the first internationally acknowledged private airport in Turkey.
Its asphalt runway is 681 m (2,234.3 ft) long and 28 m (91.9 ft) wide. There are four taxiway
Taxiway
A taxiway is a path on an airport connecting runways with ramps, hangars, terminals and other facilities. They mostly have hard surface such as asphalt or concrete, although smaller airports sometimes use gravel or grass....
s parallel to the runway, a 2400 m² (25,833.4 sq ft) concrete ramp
Airport ramp
The airport ramp or apron is part of an airport. It is usually the area where aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled or boarded. Although the use of the apron is covered by regulations, such as lighting on vehicles, it is typically more accessible to users than the runway or taxiway...
and another 3000 m² (32,291.7 sq ft) paved one. The airfield's additional facilities are a motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
circuit, a 120 m (393.7 ft) long model airplane field
Model airplane field
Model airplane fields are used for landings and takeoffs of model aircraft.Facilities provided vary significantly. They range from unimproved fields to paved runways....
and a heliport
Heliport
A heliport is a small airport suitable only for use by helicopters. Heliports typically contain one or more helipads and may have limited facilities such as fuel, lighting, a windsock, or even hangars...
.
Hezarfen Hobbyland
The airfield, called also "Hezarfen Hobbyland", offers facilities for model aircraftModel aircraft
Model aircraft are flying or non-flying models of existing or imaginary aircraft using a variety of materials including plastic, diecast metal, polystyrene, balsa wood, foam and fibreglass...
flying, model car
Model car
A model car or toy car is a miniature representation of an automobile. Other miniature motor vehicles, such as trucks, buses, or even ATVs, etc. are often included in the general category of model cars...
racing, motocross racing, drag racing
Drag racing
Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....
(cars and motorcycles), car and driver testing and flight simulation.
In addition to "Istanbul Aviation Festival" held each year in June, the Hezarfen Airfield hosts also the open air music festival Rock'n Coke
Rock'n Coke
Rock'n Coke is a Turkish rock festival sponsored by Coca-Cola. It is traditionally held at the Hezarfen Airfield in Istanbul, Turkey.- Festival :Rock'n Coke is a member of the . The festival is organized by the Turkish concert organizer...
, held since 2003 annually in September for two days attracting around 30,000 music fans.
The airfield is home to an aviation school training air traffic controllers, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter pilots. Turkey's only civil aerobatics
Aerobatics
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sport...
school and team is also based here. Another school at the site is for training motorcycle racing.
Other social facilities offered by the Hezarfen Hobbyland are a restaurant and premises for business conventions, fairs and exhibitions. Its public recreational area include also a playground for children, a skateboarding
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
ground and a 2500 m (8,202.1 ft) course around the airfield for jogging and biking in addition to a picnic and barbecue ground.
See also
- Istanbul Atatürk International AirportAtatürk International AirportAtatürk International Airport is the major international airport in Istanbul, Turkey. Opened in 1924 and located in Yeşilköy, on the European side of the city, it is west of the city centre. In 1980, the airport was renamed to Atatürk International Airport in honor of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the...
- Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International AirportSabiha Gökçen International AirportSabiha Gökçen International Airport is one of the international airports serving İstanbul, Turkey. The facility is named after Sabiha Gökçen, the first female combat pilot in the world. Located southeast of central İstanbul, it is on the Asian side of the bi-continental city...
- Istanbul Samandıra Air BaseIstanbul Samandira Air BaseIstanbul Samandıra Army Air Base, is a military airport of the Turkish Army located in Kartal district of Istanbul, Turkey. The air base is home to 4th Army Aviation Regiment of the Turkish First Army....