The single-seat Deperdussin and the two-seat Deperdussin D, built by the French Deperdussin company in 1912, were among the first military aircraft of the Ottoman air arm. On 12 March 1912 the Council of Ministers approved their purchase under pressure from the War Minister, but there was no budget for it, so Mahmut Şevket Paşa took the matter to the Muavenet-i Milliye Cemiyeti, a national aid society. He added 30 gold pieces of his own to the money it raised.
Prince Celaleddin of Egypt and Sultan Reşat joined the campaign, and the funds bought three aircraft from France: two single-seaters and one two-seater. One was named Osmanlı, another Prens Celaleddin. Although one was meant for training and the other for reconnaissance, both were used as trainers.
In March 1914 Prens Celaleddin, flown by Nuri Bey on the Istanbul to Cairo flight, crashed near Jaffa and her pilot was killed. The Deperdussins were withdrawn from service in 1914.
Specifications
- Crew: 1 (2 in the D model)
- Engine: one 70 hp Gnome (80 hp Gnome in the D model)
- Wingspan: 10.65 m
- Length: 7.30 m
- Height: 2.69 m
- Maximum take-off weight: 770 kg
- Maximum speed: 105 km/h
- Range: 650 km
- Armament: none
Adapted and translated from the original Turkish-language ModofWar archive entry.
