Leyla Mammadbeyova facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leyla Mammadbeyova
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| Leyla Ələsgər qızı Məmmədbəyova | |
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| Born | 17 September 1909 |
| Died | 4 July 1989 (aged 79) |
| Occupation | Aviator |
Leyla Mammadbeyova (born Leyla Zeynalova) was an amazing Azerbaijani pilot. She was born on September 17, 1909, and passed away on July 4, 1989. Leyla was the very first female pilot from Azerbaijan. She was also the first woman aviator in the regions of Transcaucasia, Southern Europe, and Southwest Asia. This made her a true pioneer in flying!
Contents
Early Life and Family
Leyla Mammadbeyova's family loved the arts. Her father, Alasgar Zeynalov, was related to Huseyn Arablinski, an early film actor in Azerbaijan. As a teenager, Leyla enjoyed playing musical instruments like the piano and the tar.
When she was 14, Leyla married Bahram Mammadbeyov. He later became a leader at a bank in Baku.
Becoming a Pilot
Leyla Mammadbeyova began her flight training at the Baku Airclub. She performed her very first flight in 1931. To learn even more, she continued her studies at an aviators school in Moscow in 1932.
On March 17, 1933, Leyla made history. She became the second woman in the Soviet Union to jump from a Polikarpov Po-2 airplane using a parachute. This happened at Moscow's Tushino Airfield. The first woman to do this was Nina Kamneva.
In 1934, Leyla won a special competition. This competition was for parachute jumping and included people from different nations in the South Caucasus. By 1941, she was a Squadron Leader in the Soviet Army.
World War II and Training
Leyla Mammadbeyova continued her work as a pilot and instructor at the Baku Airclub. When World War II started, she wanted to join the fight. However, she was raising four children at the time. Because of this, she was not allowed to fight in the war. She eventually had six children in total.
Even though the Baku Airclub closed during the war, Leyla found a way to help. She started her own courses for glider pilots and parachutists. Through these courses, she trained hundreds of combat pilots. She also trained about 4,000 paratroopers. Two of her students later became famous as Heroes of the Soviet Union.
Leyla Mammadbeyova made her last flight in 1949. After that, she worked as a leader for the Baku branch of DOSAAF until 1961.
Family and Legacy
Leyla's family continued her brave spirit. Her oldest son, Firudin, fought in World War II. Her younger son, Khanlar, was also a combat pilot. He took part in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.
Leyla Mammadbeyova became a hero when she was still in her twenties. People admired her courage and flying skills. Her story was shared in many ways, including in books and movies.
- The writers Mikayil Mushfig and Samad Vurgun wrote poems about her.
- A movie called Ismat was made in 1934. Leyla herself appeared in the movie as a stuntwoman. She performed the scenes where the plane was flying.
- In 1995, a documentary film about her life was released. It was simply called Leyla.
Leyla Mammadbeyova's life showed that women could achieve great things in aviation. She inspired many people in her country and beyond.
See also
In Spanish: Leila Mamedbékova para niños
