Istanbul Aviation Museum

This museum has a relatively brief but very turbulent history. First of all, it was opened not in Istanbul, but in Izmir. It worked for a while and was closed. Several years later it was opened - in a very solemn way - in Istanbul area Yesilyurt.

Aviation in general means a lot for the Turks. When Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish republic, decided to modernize the country, first of all he had sent tens of thousands of young people in the sky. They opened aeronautical schools where girls also trained to be the pilots. One of them - adopted daughter of Ataturk - was the first pilot in Istanbul. You will find out this in Istanbul Aviation Museum.

What else could you see and learn in this museum? First, the very place where it is located is quite interesting. This is... acting Air Staff of Turkey in Istanbul! Of course, they won’t show you secret documents, but everything else is available. You will see jet engine and hovercrafts taken into service in the Turkish army, cargo planes and helicopters. Also you will see some non-classified types of aircraft weapons, photographs, logos, medallions and personal stuff of pilots of the Turkish unit. Rich set of documents is also impressive. There are handwritten documents and photographs of different epochs, where you will see how Turkish aviation emerged and developed.

The museum has a cinema and a hall for conferences. Cafe and gift shop are also attached to the museum.

The museum is open every day except Monday. Opening hours: from 9:30 to 17:00. The entrance is 10 lire or $6.