Vecihi K-VI

The Vecihi K‑VI was the first aircraft designed and built in Turkey, conceived by pioneering aviator Vecihi Hürkuş in the early 1930s. After completing his training in France and serving as a combat pilot during the Turkish War of Independence, Hürkuş returned home determined to create a domestically produced airplane that could demonstrate the nation’s technical capability. Construction began in 1931 at Hürkuş’s modest workshop in Ankara, using a wooden frame covered with fabric and a locally sourced 85‑horsepower Le Rhône rotary engine. The low‑wing monoplane featured a fixed tailskid undercarriage, dual open cockpits for pilot and passenger, and simple control surfaces that gave it stable handling at low speeds. Its first flight on 28 June 1932 proved successful, but limited funding and the lack of a supportive industrial infrastructure prevented series production. Although only a single prototype was completed, the K‑VI became a symbol of Turkish independence in aviation and inspired subsequent projects such as the K‑VII trainer. Vecihi Hürkuş’s achievement paved the way for the establishment of Turkey’s aeronautical industry and remains celebrated as a milestone in the country’s aerospace history.

Vecihi Hürkuş

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Production & History

Design & Classification