Lagâri Hasan Çelebi
Ottoman aviator who reportedly flew a gunpowder rocket in 1633.
Lagâri Hasan Çelebi was an Ottoman scientist, engineer, and aviator. According to the account written by the traveller Evliya Çelebi, he made a successful crewed rocket flight in 1633, launching from Sarayburnu in Istanbul. His story is one of the earliest recorded attempts at rocket-powered flight.
- Field
- Aviation, Engineering
- Nationality
- Ottoman
- Known for
- Claimed first crewed rocket flight
Lore & Background
According to Evliya Çelebi, in 1633 Lagâri Hasan Çelebi blasted off from Sarayburnu, the promontory below the Topkapı Palace in Istanbul, in a 7-winged rocket propelled by 50 okka (64 kilograms or 141 pounds) of gunpowder. The flight was said to have been undertaken at the time of the birth of Sultan Murad IV's daughter. Before launching, Lagâri proclaimed, 'O my sultan! Be blessed; I am going to talk to Jesus!' After ascending, he landed in the sea, swam ashore, and joked, 'O my sultan! Jesus sends his regards to you!' He was rewarded by the Sultan with silver and the rank of sipahi in the Ottoman army.
Evliya Çelebi also mentioned another aviation pioneer, Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi, making a flight by glider a year earlier. The account is the sole source for Lagâri Hasan Çelebi's flight, and its accuracy is debated.
Reader's Guide
Lagâri Hasan Çelebi's significance lies in his being one of the earliest recorded figures to attempt crewed rocket flight, as documented by the contemporary traveller Evliya Çelebi. The story, while legendary, represents a notable early intersection of gunpowder technology and human flight in the Ottoman Empire. His legacy has been explored in popular culture, including the 1996 film 'Istanbul Beneath My Wings,' which depicts his life alongside his brother Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi. The legend was also tested by the television show MythBusters in 2009, which noted that Evliya Çelebi had not sufficiently specified the design and concluded that a safe landing would have been 'extremely difficult' for a 17th-century figure. The show used a 4-winged rocket, while Celebi was purported to have used a 7-winged rocket. The uncertainty surrounding the account—due to the lack of corroborating sources and technical challenges—means that Lagâri Hasan Çelebi remains a figure of historical curiosity rather than verified achievement.
Did You Know?
- Lagâri Hasan Çelebi's flight was reportedly witnessed by Sultan Murad IV.
- He used a 7-winged rocket propelled by 64 kilograms of gunpowder.
- After landing in the sea, he swam ashore and joked with the Sultan.
- The MythBusters team found the design insufficiently specified and the flight extremely difficult to replicate safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lagâri Hasan Çelebi?
He was an Ottoman-era scientist, engineer, and aviator best remembered for a reported crewed rocket flight. His work placed him among the earliest figures associated with rocket-powered human travel.
What is Lagâri Hasan Çelebi known for?
He is credited with piloting a gunpowder rocket in a successful crewed flight, an event that stands as one of the first recorded instances of rocket-powered human flight in history.
When and where did the flight take place?
According to the surviving account, the launch occurred in 1633 from the Sarayburnu area in Istanbul.
Who recorded the story of the flight?
The Ottoman traveller and chronicler Evliya Çelebi wrote down the description of the event, and his text remains the primary source for what happened.
Why is Lagâri Hasan Çelebi important to aviation history?
His reported 1633 rocket flight predates modern rocketry by nearly two centuries, making it one of the earliest documented attempts to send a person into the air using rocket propulsion.
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