The History of Aviation in Iran
- heliya erfani
- 10 months ago
The history of firsts has always been important and attention-grabbing in any subject or occasion. The initial experiences of humans in dealing with natural or industrial events and processes are of great interest and desire. As they can be the source of many positive or negative changes in human life. In this short article, we aim to introduce you to the history of aviation in Iran
Stay tuned with the Sepehran blog to learn more about the history of aviation in Iran.
108 years after the invention of the balloon in 1270 solar year and towards the end of the reign of “Naser al-Din Shah Qajar,” the skies of Iran were first opened by a French balloon. This flight astonished the people of Tehran, Tabriz, and some other major cities of the country.
The shape of the balloon and its coloring were such that it resembled an elephant when seen from the ground, which gave rise to the expression “making an elephant fly,” a metaphor still used today, indicating the accomplishment of a difficult and seemingly impossible task.
“Mark Yon Kosminski,” a Polish aviator, was the first person to fly over the skies of Iran. In 1292 solar year, he managed to fly to Tehran from the lands of Russia in a Bleriot aircraft, registering his name in history.
The Bleriot XI was the first aircraft to grace the skies of Iran. This single-seat French aircraft was the 11th aircraft produced by Louis Bleriot (July 1872 – August 1936) and was placed in the possession of Russia.
“Kosminski,” with his Bleriot XI aircraft, was responsible for breaking several records in the list of Iran’s aviation firsts, including being involved in an aviation accident. Due to the lack of a suitable landing site in Tehran, he had to choose a field for landing, where he collided with a cannon pipe that was on the field, damaging his aircraft. Fortunately, he escaped unharmed.
Mashq Square in the Division of Kazakh (currently the site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the police force) was the first location in Iran where aircraft landings took place. In the absence of a suitable airport in the country, “Kosminski” conducted airplane landing operations there on the 12th of Dey in 1292 solar year.
Ghajar Palace or the Besisim Neighborhood was the first place from which an aircraft managed to take off in Iran. “Kosminski,” who, during his landing at Mashq Square, found the space inadequate for flying, surveyed flat areas in Tehran. As a result, he considered the flat ground of the former Qajar Palace as suitable for this purpose. The repaired aircraft was transferred to this location via the ground, and he successfully completed his first flight.
Colonel “Mohammad Taqi Khan Pessian” was the first Iranian to complete aviation training. However, he never had the opportunity to become a pilot due to being banned from flying after only completing 33 hours of flight training in 1296 solar year, as he fell ill.
So, the third deputy, “Ali Asghar Malek,” was the first person to complete a pilot training course in Iran and obtained his pilot’s license on the 1st of Tir, 1309 solar year.
“Issa Eshtudakh,” known as “Issa Khan Tayyar,” was the first Iranian aviator to successfully fly in the skies of Iran. On the 6th of Bahman, 1304 solar year, he initiated his flight from the city of Baku and entered Iranian airspace. Fuel shortages and technical issues forced “Eshtuadakh” to land near Qazvin, where he spent one month for repairs before resuming his journey towards Tehran.
“Fatemeh Pahlavi,” the tenth child of “Reza Shah,” was the first Iranian woman to become an aviator after completing aviation training courses.
Colonel “Ahmad Khan Nakhjavan” was the first Iranian aviator who, after completing a training course in France and obtaining his pilot’s license on the 16th of Dey, 1303 solar year, successfully conducted his first independent flight on the long route from Paris to Tehran. He became the first Iranian aviator to achieve a successful flight in the country and landed his aircraft safely in Tehran on the 5th of Esfand, 1304 solar year.
The first aviation school in Iran was established in Tehran in Shahrivar, 1311 solar year. It started with 20 students, and 14 of them successfully obtained pilot’s licenses.
The first deputy, “Fathollah Zand Ansari,” was the first Iranian aviator to lose his life in an aviation accident. While conducting a test flight with a British “Moshghi Tiger Moth” aircraft in Ahvaz in Bahman, 1311 solar year, he encountered an accident and couldn’t save himself from the catastrophe.
“P. Shaounen,” a military attache affiliated with the French embassy in Iran, was the first foreign national to complete a pilot training course at the Iranian Air Force College and obtained his pilot’s license on the 15th of Khordad, 1330 solar year.
“Ghal’e Morghi” was the first airport where flight operations took place. It began operations with the first airplane flight from there on the 8th of Mordad, 1301 solar year.
On the morning of the 27th of Azar, 1304 solar year, the first flight over “Mount Damavand” took place, lasting 7 minutes, conducted by three French aircraft. Prior to this, no aircraft had reached such heights in Iran. This significant flight commenced from Ghal’e Morghi Airport and lasted for one hour and three minutes.
The first aircraft purchased by Iran was the “Junkers F 13,” acquired by the Imperial Iranian Army from the German company “Junkers” in 1301 solar year. This company also became the first to establish aviation facilities in Iran.
“Siyavash Siahpoosh” was the first Iranian to successfully perform a major aircraft overhaul in Iran in 1309 solar year.So, the repaired aircraft was a “de Havilland DH.9A,” and the overhaul operations were carried out at the Ghal’e Morghi maintenance center.
The “Shahbaz Aircraft Factories,” which became operational in 1314 solar year, were the first aircraft factories in Iran where aircraft assembly took place. They assembled aircraft using components purchased from England. These factories produced the first Iranian aircraft, including the “de Havilland Tiger Moth,” “Adax,” and “Heinkel.” These aircraft conducted flights intermittently starting from the 1st of Mordad, 1317 solar year, and were delivered to the Iranian Air Force.
The aircraft manufacturing program by these factories continued until 1318 solar year, but it was halted afterward due to the outbreak of World War II and the unavailability of raw materials.
In first, the aviation accident involving the “Adax” aircraft, piloted by “Jafar Darbandi,” on the 20th of Mehr, 1315 solar year, which resulted in a fire, marks the first recorded incident in Iran where a pilot successfully used a parachute rescue to save himself from the disaster.
In 1321 solar year, the first Iranian airline named “Iranian Airways” was established by a group of Iranian merchants for the purpose of passenger and cargo transportation on domestic and regional routes. Years later, after successful domestic flights, this airline expanded its operations to Europe, operating weekly flights to Europe with a fleet of aircraft including “Douglas DC-3,” “Douglas DC-4,” and “Vickers Viscount,” becoming the first Iranian airline to do so.
The personnel of the Iranian Air Force were the first Iranians to travel abroad by air. In Dey, 1313 solar year, this group of experts was invited by the Turkish government to Ankara via five flights of “Adax Hornet” aircraft for a friendly visit. After a 15-day stopover, they returned to Tehran on the 17th of Aban the same year.
The battle of Iranian forces against the Jangalis, led by “Mirza Kuchak Khan,” witnessed the first aerial operation in which aerial operations were conducted to support government forces. British pilots, with two flights of aircraft, reinforced the government’s forces, providing air support in the first-ever military aerial operation in Iran.
On the 5th of Khordad, 1303 solar year, during a visit and parade in Tehran, the first-ever display of military aircraft over Tehran began from Ghal’e Morghi Airport. After 15 minutes, the display concluded.
We have discussed the history of aviation in Iran and the pioneers. If there is any historical point that has been overlooked in your memory, please leave it in the comments section so that it can be addressed.
