KONYA, Turkey (AA) – Major Esra Ozatay has made history by becoming Turkey’s first female wing commander in the Turkish Air Force.
According to a military statement issued late Thursday, Ozatay would lead the elite aerobatic unit Turkish Stars.
She took over her new post from Col. Senol Cetin at a handing over ceremony in Konya.
The mother of two graduated from the Turkish Air Force Academy in 1998 and flew with F-5 as a fighter pilot. She was appointed to the Turkish Star squadron in 2014.
The Turkish Star team carries out demonstrations and training with NF-5A and NF-5B aircraft, according to its official website.
Ozatay follows legendary Turkish pilot Sabiha Gokcen, the world’s first female fighter pilot, who enrolled in Turkey’s Military Aviation Academy in 1936. Istanbul’s second airport on its eastern side, built in 2001, is named after Gokcen.
