Fadiko Gogitidze

Sculpture dedicated to Gogitidze

Fadiko Gogitidze (1916 - 20 October 1940) was a pilot from Adjara, who was the first woman from the region to become a pilot. She died during a test flight in 1940. A statue was later unveiled in her honour and a street in her birthplace was renamed in her honour.

Biography

Born in Kobuleti Municipality in 1916.[1] Tbilisi Flight School opened in 1934 and in 1936 she graduated from it,[2] and began working as an instructor at the Batumi Aeroclub.[3] She was the first woman from Adjara to become a pilot, overcoming sexism to enrol and graduate.[2] Her first flight was on 18 August 1936.[4] She died while on undertaking a test flight in Batumi on 20 October 1940.[3] She had a three month old son.[4]

Legacy

A sculpture dedicated to her was unveiled at the entrance to Batumi International Airport.[1] The sculpture is an example of Soviet art, depicting a symbolic female pilot, with a small child at her feet.[2] Popov Street in Kobuleti was renamed after her in 2014.[5]

References

1. Encyclopaedia Georgia, vol. 2, Tbilisi , 2012., p. 63.
2. მოისწრაფიშვილი, ნათია. "ქართული სკულპტურის განვითარების მხატვრული ტენდენციები." [in English: Moipurishvili, Natia. "Artistic trends in the development of Georgian sculpture." PhD diss., 2021, pp.13-14]
3. Khut︠s︡ishvili, Georgiĭ Iosifovich (1980). The Black Sea Coast of the Caucasus: A Guide. Progress Publishers. p. 179.
4. ""24 წლის ფადიკო საცდელი ფრენისას გარდაიცვალა, 3 თვის გოგონა დარჩა" - პირველი აჭარელი მფრინავი ქალის ხანმოკლე ცხოვრება". www.allnews.ge (in Georgian). 2023-07-06. Retrieved 2024-12-27.
5. კახაბერიძე, ცაგო (2023-07-18). "ქობულეთში სახელს შეუცვლიან პუშკინისა და პოპოვის ქუჩებს და სტალინის უბანს - Batumelebi". Batumelebi.ge (in Georgian). Retrieved 2024-12-27.