The Great Turkish Aviator Vecihi Hürkuş (January 6, 1896 - July 16, 1969) was a pioneer of Turkish aviation, an engineer and a fighter pilot. He was a proud Turk who personally heard the words “The future is in the skies” from the Great Leader M.K. Atatürk.

During World War I, Vecihi Hürkuş distinguished himself in aerial combat on the Eastern Front. After his aircraft was shot down, he was forced to make an emergency landing and was captured by Russian forces. A member of the Ottoman Army at the time, he managed to escape after a year in captivity. Upon returning, he joined the Turkish War of Independence and continued to defend the skies against invading imperialist forces.

After the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye, Vecihi Hürkuş left the army and continued his efforts to contribute to Turkish civil aviation. One of his most important achievements was the construction of the Vecihi XIV (14) aircraft, completed in 1930 in Istanbul. The plane was then transported by train to Prague, where it was granted a certificate of airworthiness by the local aviation authority. As a result, the Vecihi XIV (14) became known as Türkiye’s “First Certified Aircraft.” After receiving its certification, the aircraft was flown back to Istanbul by Vecihi Hürkuş himself and later participated in numerous air tours across Türkiye.

In January 2025, 95 years after the original construction of the Vecihi XIV (14), a project was launched in cooperation with the Sivrihisar Aviation Club and the M.S.Ö. Air and Space Museum to build a flying replica of the aircraft. The project was completed in six months, using an E 75 fuselage as a base, and aimed to replicate the appearance of the original Vecihi XIV (14) as closely as possible. The wings and tail section were also designed in accordance with this goal, using modern engineering calculations to ensure flight safety. One of the most reliable engines from the 1940s was installed in the replica, along with a matching wooden propeller. As a result, the project yielded a flying replica that is approximately 80% faithful to the original aircraft. The replica completed its maiden test flight in June 2025 and passed all subsequent technical evaluations. It was officially added to the inventory of the M.S.Ö. Air and Space Museum during a ceremony held on June 28, 2025.

The construction of the Vecihi XIV (14) replica was carried out by the Mach Technic Team.