Nuri Demirag
Encyclopedia
Nuri Demirağ was an early Turkish
industrialist. He was one of the first millionaires of the Turkish Republic. His first innovation was the production of cigarette paper. Demirağ then invested his capital in the development of the Turkish railway network. Because of this investment, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
gave him the surname Demirağ, which translates as "Network of iron".
In 1936 he started his own aircraft factory at Beşiktaş
, Istanbul
(later nationalized by the government and now occupied by the Istanbul Naval Museum
). Approximately 500 employees worked there to complete the very first Turkish aeroplane. Demirağ tried to sell the Nu D.36 to Turkey
as well as to countries such as Egypt
, Iran
, Iraq
, the Netherlands
and Spain
. The construction of another aircraft, the Nu D.38
, followed the first one.
In 1946 he founded the first opposition party, which was named Milli Kalkınma Partisi (National Development Party), but his party suffered an eclipse by the Demokrat Parti (Democratic Party) and was dissolved in 1958. He was elected deputy of Sivas for the Democratic Party as an independent candidate in 1954.
As a result of government interference, Demirağ donated his aircraft to his flying school (Gök Okulu) in Yeşilköy
, created to interest young Turks in aircraft technology. The land upon which the school was built was later nationalized by the Turkish government and is now the Atatürk International Airport
.
Demirağ died in 1957 from diabetes.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
industrialist. He was one of the first millionaires of the Turkish Republic. His first innovation was the production of cigarette paper. Demirağ then invested his capital in the development of the Turkish railway network. Because of this investment, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was an Ottoman and Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman, writer, and the first President of Turkey. He is credited with being the founder of the Republic of Turkey....
gave him the surname Demirağ, which translates as "Network of iron".
In 1936 he started his own aircraft factory at Beşiktaş
Besiktas
Beşiktaş is a municipality of Istanbul, Turkey, located on the European shore of the Bosphorus. It is bordered on the north by Sarıyer and Şişli, on the west by Kağıthane and Şişli, on the south by Beyoğlu, and on the east by the Bosphorus...
, Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
(later nationalized by the government and now occupied by the Istanbul Naval Museum
Istanbul Naval Museum
The Istanbul Naval Museum is a national naval museum of the Republic of Turkey, located in Istanbul. It was established in 1897 by the Ottoman Minister of Navy Bozcaadalı Hasan Hüsnü Paşa....
). Approximately 500 employees worked there to complete the very first Turkish aeroplane. Demirağ tried to sell the Nu D.36 to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
as well as to countries such as Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The construction of another aircraft, the Nu D.38
Nuri Demirağ Nu D.38
|-See also:...
, followed the first one.
In 1946 he founded the first opposition party, which was named Milli Kalkınma Partisi (National Development Party), but his party suffered an eclipse by the Demokrat Parti (Democratic Party) and was dissolved in 1958. He was elected deputy of Sivas for the Democratic Party as an independent candidate in 1954.
As a result of government interference, Demirağ donated his aircraft to his flying school (Gök Okulu) in Yeşilköy
Yesilköy
Yeşilköy is a neighborhood of the Bakırköy municipality of Istanbul, Turkey.It is located along the Marmara Sea about 11 kilometers west of Istanbul's historic city center...
, created to interest young Turks in aircraft technology. The land upon which the school was built was later nationalized by the Turkish government and is now the Atatürk International Airport
Atatürk International Airport
Atatürk International Airport is the major international airport in Istanbul, Turkey. Opened in 1924 and located in Yeşilköy, on the European side of the city, it is west of the city centre. In 1980, the airport was renamed to Atatürk International Airport in honor of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the...
.
Demirağ died in 1957 from diabetes.