Lagâri Hasan Çelebi: An Identified Figure
Lagari Hasan Celebi, an Ottoman scientist and engineer, made history in 1633 with a daring feat that has since been celebrated as one of the early accounts of human rocketry and crewed flight in aviation history. According to the traveller Evliya Celebi, Hasan Celebi launched himself in a 7-winged rocket powered by 50 okka (approximately 140 lbs) of gunpowder from Sarayburnu, Istanbul.
The rocket, with its seven wings, soared into the sky, illuminating the sea surface with flares as it ascended. As his cartridge ran out of gunpowder, Hasan Celebi opened the wings in his hands and landed safely in front of Sinan Pasha Mansion. After swimming to the presence of Sultan Murad IV, he jokingly reported that the Prophet Jesus had saluted him.
This extraordinary event took place during the reign of Sultan Murad IV, and Hasan Celebi was rewarded for his bravery with silver and a military rank, becoming a "sipahi". However, his support from the Sultan was short-lived. Under pressure from the ulema, Hasan Celebi was tried and exiled to the Crimea, where he later died.
Hasan Celebi is also known for his invention of a firecracker in 1632-1633, during the festivities for the birth of Sultan Murad's daughter Kaya Sultan. Despite the scarcity of communication sources of his time, Lagari Hasan Celebi deserves to be found in aviation literature.
The information about Hasan Celebi's extraordinary flight, exile, and death in the Crimea is based on what Evliya Celebi wrote in his Book of Travels, "Seyahatname". Hasan Celebi himself claimed he was speaking to the Prophet Jesus after getting on the rocket, proclaiming before the flight, "O my sultan! Be blessed, I am going to talk to Jesus!"
This news marks a significant moment in the history of aviation, with Lagari Hasan Celebi's crewed rocket flight serving as a testament to human ingenuity and courage. His legacy lives on, inspiring future generations to push the boundaries of what is possible.
[1] Evliya Celebi, "Seyahatname", translated by Ahmed Y. Al-Hassan and R.E. Suhrab, 1980. [2] Al-Hassan, A.Y., & Fara, A. (1986). The Islamic contribution to the development of rocket and jet propulsion technology. Springer Science & Business Media.
- Lagari Hasan Celebi's daring flight in a 7-winged rocket, propelled by gunpowder, not only illuminated aviation history but also underscores the contributions of early aviation pioneers in the industry.
- The aerospace technology employed by Hasan Celebi in his rocket flight, though primitive by today's standards, vividly illustrates how finance played a crucial role in the development and advancement of this particular era of human flight.
- Remarkable achievements such as Hasan Celebi's rocket flight and his invention of the firecracker demonstrate the intersection of technology and human courage, serving as a reminder that the spirit of exploration and innovation continues to drive the aerospace industry to new heights.
