Ankara Parachute Tower
| Company type | Tower |
|---|---|
| Industry | Parachuting, Aviation |
| Founded | 1937 |
| Headquarters | Ankara , Turkey |
| Owner | Turkish Aeronautical Association Museum |
The Ankara Parachute Tower stands in the Altındağ neighborhood of Ankara, Turkey. Positioned to the northwest of the former Ankara 19 Mayıs Stadium, it is one of only two parachute towers operating in Turkey, alongside the İzmir Parachute Tower. Presently, it functions under the auspices of the Turkish Aeronautical Association Museum.
History
The concept of establishing a parachute tower in Ankara originated when the then-mayor of İzmir, Behçet Uz, was inspired by the parachute tower he observed during his visit to Gorky Park in the Soviet Union. Following his return, he compiled a report proposing the erection of a similar structure within Turkey. The early Republic era’s strong emphasis on aviation facilitated the swift advancement of this proposal. Initially, plans aimed to build parachute towers in Turkey’s three largest cities: Istanbul, Ankara, and İzmir. However, due to prohibitive expenses, the Istanbul project was ultimately abandoned.
Both the Ankara and İzmir parachute towers were completed concurrently in 1937. The inauguration ceremony occurred on October 28, 1937, attended by then-Prime Minister Celâl Bayar. The tower’s exterior received restoration work in 1982. Later, on April 4, 1989, it was officially registered and protected by the Ankara Cultural and Natural Heritage Preservation Regional Board under decision number 759.
Architecture
Conceived by architect Bedri Tümay, the tower rises to a height of 41 meters across four levels.[1][2] The structure features three balconies, each equipped with a jump platform. Vertical movement between the floors is facilitated by both staircases and an elevator. Positioned at the summit is a winch designed for the release of double-weight parachutes.[3]
References
- ↑ "Bedri Tümay" (PDF) (in Türkçe). p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 12, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ↑ Özlem Mengilibörü; Can Mengilibörü; Aydın Bodur (November 2014). "Uğur Kavas: In Pursuit of Ankara Passion in Photography" (PDF). Solfasol (in Türkçe). 4 (43). Ankara: 18–19. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ↑ Lale (January 2022). ""After 82 Years of Ankara 19 May Stadium"..." Free Architect (in Türkçe) (43). Ankara: Turkish Association of Independent Architects: 64–71. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
External links
- Site Plans of Ankara Parachute Tower Archived December 3, 2022, at the Wayback Machine