Nuri Demirağ

Nuri Demirağ was born in Divriği, Sivas. In the Republic's early years he became known as a railway contractor and built many of the country's lines; Atatürk gave him the surname Demirağ ("iron net") for this work.

In 1936 he founded an aircraft factory in Beşiktaş, Istanbul, and opened an airfield and flying school at Yeşilköy. The factory produced the Nu.D.36 trainer and the six-seat Nu.D.38 airliner.

Without state orders the factory later closed, but his initiative is remembered as a pioneer of Türkiye's aviation and defence industry, and Sivas airport bears his name.