Leyla Mammadbeyova – The East’s First Female Flyer

Last Updated on: August 4, 2026

 

Leyla Mammadbeyova – The East’s First Female Flyer

Leyla Alasgar gizi Mammadbeyova, known as the first female pilot in Azerbaijan, the South Caucasus, and the Middle East, was born on September 17, 1909, in Baku. In 1918, on the eve of the March genocide carried out by Armenians against Azerbaijanis, she and her family were forced to move to Astrakhan. Her father, Alasgar Zeynalov, a revolutionary, was closely connected with prominent political figures of his time and was friends with Nariman Narimanov. They lived in the same house in Astrakhan. Leyla Khanum was known for her courage and fearlessness since childhood. At age ten, she became her father’s “little revolutionary.” As a child, she didn’t attract the attention of the gendarmes and, following her father’s instructions, delivered letters and documents belonging to revolutionaries to their contacts.

After the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, Leyla returned to Baku in 1920. She had lost her mother at the age of 12 or 13 and was surrounded by the special care and love of her father, uncles, and four brothers. In 1922, before she turned fourteen, Leyla married nineteen-year-old Bahram Mammadbeyov, who was originally from Kurdakhani. Bahram encouraged her to continue her education and to take an active role in public life. As a result, Leyla was accepted into the Baku Pilot School. That year, only 22 people were admitted to the school, and Leyla was the only woman among them.

In 1931, Leyla Mammadbeyova completed her first flight in a U-1 aircraft, accompanied by an experienced instructor. At the age of sixteen, she gave birth to her first child. In 1932, Leyla moved to Moscow to continue her studies. There, she learned to fly the U-2 plane and met several renowned aviators.

On March 17, 1933, Leyla Mammadbeyova made a parachute jump with a PT-1 from a U-2 aircraft at the Tushino airfield in Moscow during her training at the USSR Osoaviakhim Central Flight Technical School. Before her jump, there had only been 84 paratroopers in the Soviet Union, and among them, only one was a woman. With this jump, instructor-pilot Leyla Mammadbeyova became the second female parachutist in the Soviet Union, following Nina Kamneva.

In 1934, Leyla Mammadbeyova achieved first place in the parachutist competition held among the South Caucasus republics. In 1935, as part of the celebrations marking the 15th anniversary of Soviet Azerbaijan, she visited Moscow as a member of the republican delegation. Mikhail Kalinin, the Chairman of the USSR Central Executive Committee, awarded her the Order of the Badge of Honor.

When the Great Patriotic War began in 1941, Leyla Mammadbeyova held the rank of squadron leader and was a mother of four children. Although she wished to join the war effort, she was not permitted to go to the front lines because she had just given birth to her youngest child.

After the Baku Pilot School was closed, Leyla Mammadbeyova took the initiative, with the support of Mir Jafar Baghirov, to establish the Glider-Parachute Club. During the war years, hundreds of paratroopers and nearly 4,000 parachutists were trained at this club and deployed to the front lines. Two of Mammadbeyova’s students, Adil Guliyev and Nikolay Sheverdyayev, were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

The first female military pilot in Azerbaijan, Zuleykha Seyidmammadova, was inspired to pursue this profession by Leyla Mammadbeyova.

Leyla Mammadbeyova’s final flight took place in 1949. Her career as a pilot came to an end due to health issues.

Several literary and documentary works have been written about Leyla Mammadbeyova, who is recognized as Azerbaijan’s first female pilot. Examples include Mikayil Mushfig’s poems “Afshan” and “Shola,” as well as Samad Vurghun’s work “Leyla,” which reflects her life. A silent feature film titled “Ismat,” recorded in 1934, was also dedicated to her. In 1995, a documentary film named “Leyla” was produced.

Leyla Mammadbeyova received several awards for her services in aviation and public activities. She was honored with the Order of the Badge of Honor in 1936, the “For the Defense of the Caucasus” medal in 1945, and she received the “For Distinguished Labor,” “For Labor Valor,” and “Veteran of Labor” medals in 1946. Notably, Leyla Mammadbeyova, a mother of six, was also awarded the “Motherhood Medal.”

In 2017, an article about Leyla Mammadbeyova was published in the well-known American publication “Huffington Post.”

Leyla Mammadbeyova passed away in July 1989 and was buried in the Second Alley of Honor.

Leyla Alasgar gizi Mammadbeyova, known as the first female pilot in Azerbaijan, the South Caucasus, and the Middle East, was born on September 17, 1909, in Baku. In 1918, on the eve of the March genocide carried out by Armenians against Azerbaijanis, she and her family were forced to move to Astrakhan. Her father, Alasgar Zeynalov, a revolutionary, was closely connected with prominent political figures of his time and was friends with Nariman Narimanov. They lived in the same house in Astrakhan. Leyla Khanum was known for her courage and fearlessness since childhood. At age ten, she became her father’s “little revolutionary.” As a child, she didn’t attract the attention of the gendarmes and, following her father’s instructions, delivered letters and documents belonging to revolutionaries to their contacts.

After the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, Leyla returned to Baku in 1920. She had lost her mother at the age of 12 or 13 and was surrounded by the special care and love of her father, uncles, and four brothers. In 1922, before she turned fourteen, Leyla married nineteen-year-old Bahram Mammadbeyov, who was originally from Kurdakhani. Bahram encouraged her to continue her education and to take an active role in public life. As a result, Leyla was accepted into the Baku Pilot School. That year, only 22 people were admitted to the school, and Leyla was the only woman among them.

In 1931, Leyla Mammadbeyova completed her first flight in a U-1 aircraft, accompanied by an experienced instructor. At the age of sixteen, she gave birth to her first child. In 1932, Leyla moved to Moscow to continue her studies. There, she learned to fly the U-2 plane and met several renowned aviators.

On March 17, 1933, Leyla Mammadbeyova made a parachute jump with a PT-1 from a U-2 aircraft at the Tushino airfield in Moscow during her training at the USSR Osoaviakhim Central Flight Technical School. Before her jump, there had only been 84 paratroopers in the Soviet Union, and among them, only one was a woman. With this jump, instructor-pilot Leyla Mammadbeyova became the second female parachutist in the Soviet Union, following Nina Kamneva.

In 1934, Leyla Mammadbeyova achieved first place in the parachutist competition held among the South Caucasus republics. In 1935, as part of the celebrations marking the 15th anniversary of Soviet Azerbaijan, she visited Moscow as a member of the republican delegation. Mikhail Kalinin, the Chairman of the USSR Central Executive Committee, awarded her the Order of the Badge of Honor.

When the Great Patriotic War began in 1941, Leyla Mammadbeyova held the rank of squadron leader and was a mother of four children. Although she wished to join the war effort, she was not permitted to go to the front lines because she had just given birth to her youngest child.

After the Baku Pilot School was closed, Leyla Mammadbeyova took the initiative, with the support of Mir Jafar Baghirov, to establish the Glider-Parachute Club. During the war years, hundreds of paratroopers and nearly 4,000 parachutists were trained at this club and deployed to the front lines. Two of Mammadbeyova’s students, Adil Guliyev and Nikolay Sheverdyayev, were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.

The first female military pilot in Azerbaijan, Zuleykha Seyidmammadova, was inspired to pursue this profession by Leyla Mammadbeyova.

Leyla Mammadbeyova’s final flight took place in 1949. Her career as a pilot came to an end due to health issues.

Several literary and documentary works have been written about Leyla Mammadbeyova, who is recognized as Azerbaijan’s first female pilot. Examples include Mikayil Mushfig’s poems “Afshan” and “Shola,” as well as Samad Vurghun’s work “Leyla,” which reflects her life. A silent feature film titled “Ismat,” recorded in 1934, was also dedicated to her. In 1995, a documentary film named “Leyla” was produced.

Leyla Mammadbeyova received several awards for her services in aviation and public activities. She was honored with the Order of the Badge of Honor in 1936, the “For the Defense of the Caucasus” medal in 1945, and she received the “For Distinguished Labor,” “For Labor Valor,” and “Veteran of Labor” medals in 1946. Notably, Leyla Mammadbeyova, a mother of six, was also awarded the “Motherhood Medal.”

In 2017, an article about Leyla Mammadbeyova was published in the well-known American publication “Huffington Post.”

Leyla Mammadbeyova passed away in July 1989 and was buried in the Second Alley of Honor.