THK-16 Mehmetçik

THK (Türk Hava Kurumu)

As a forerunner of the nowadays Turkish Aeronautical Association (Türk Hava Kurumu, THK), the Turkish Aircraft Foundation (Türk Tayyare Cemiyeti, TTaC) was founded on 16.02.1925. In accordance with the statute, the TTaC was to collect donations to buy new aircraft for the Turkish Air Force. In the years 1925-1935, 250 new aircraft could be procured by the actions of the TTaC. Some aircraft (like e.g. the Bréguet XIX B-2) was assembled in the halls of the TTaC.

In 1935 the statute of the foundation was modified. From that time it was supposed to function not as procurement organ for the Air Force, but rather execute sports activities in civilian aviation.