Turkish Aeronautical Association

Turkish Aeronautical Association (Turkish: Türk Hava Kurumu - THK) is a non-profit organization with an aim of increasing public awareness and participation in aviation related activities and the national body governing air sports in Turkey. The association was founded with the name Türk Tayyare Cemiyeti (Turkish Aeroplane League) by the directive of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on February 16, 1925.^[1]

Turkish Aeronautical Association

Türk Hava Kurumu
Formation	1925; 100 years ago (1925)
Founder	Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Type	Aviation
Headquarters	Türk Hava Kurumu Genel Başkanlığı Atatürk Bulvarı No:33 06100 Opera - Ankara
Membership	FAI, IACE
Website	www.thk.org.tr

An illustration in Cumhuriyet newspaper regarding the Turkish Aeroplane League, 25 May 1935

During the 1940s, it operated a factory in Ankara producing aircraft of its own design as well as under licence from British manufacturer Miles.^[2] These manufacturing facilities were purchased in 1952 by MKEK,^[3] which produced the THK-15 design in quantity under the designation MKEK-4.

THK is a member of Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) since 1929, and has been an active participant in international air sports events and championships, including the organization of the 1st World Air Games hosted by THK in 1997.

The association also participates in aerial firefighting and agricultural chemical spraying operations whilst offering aircraft maintenance to third parties.^[4]

Training centers

THK General Management Building

Türkkuşu Training Center

Türkkuşu Training Center in Ankara also serves as the headquarters of THK. Throughout years, Türkkuşu trained many talented aviators including Sabiha Gökçen the first female Turkish aviator.

The center offers courses on:

• Piloting
• Parachuting
• Gliding
• Flight simulation

İnönü Training Center

Located in İnönü, Eskişehir, the center runs summer courses on the following air sports activities:

• Parachuting
• Gliding
• Ballooning
• Paragliding
• Hang gliding

Selçuk (Ephesus) Training Center

This center in Selçuk, İzmir offers courses in:

• Piloting
• Gliding
• Parachuting
• Microlight training

Erzincan Training Center

Located in Erzincan, the center runs summer courses on the following air sports activities:

• Parachuting
• Gliding
• Ballooning
• Paragliding
• Hang gliding

Karain Training Center

Located in Antalya, the center runs summer courses on the following air sports activities:

• Parachuting
• Gliding
• Ballooning
• Paragliding
• Hang gliding

Aircraft

THK-4 sculpture

THK-11 on display

• THK-1
• THK-2
• THK-3
• THK-4
• THK-5
• THK-7
• THK-9
• THK-10
• THK-11
• THK-12
• THK-13
• THK-14
• THK-15
• THK-16 Mehmetçik
• THK-TAYSU

See also

• Turkey portal

• List of firefighting equipment of Turkey
• Tayyare Apartments, redeveloped into five-star hotel in Istanbul

Notes

• Gunston, Bill (1993). World Encyclopedia of Aircraft Manufacturers. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press.