Sojourner - Traveling with the “Canman”

My second annual roadtrip to the Oshkosh, Wisconsin for AIRVENTURE 2024 and a delightful respite from Texas heat! AIRVENTURE is an amazing event. for one week this little airport becomes the busiest airport in the world hosting a  spectacular display of experimental and redtored aircraft aircraft embellished with enthusiasm,  politeness and cleanliness from the half million attendees.  If only all of American society behaved in a similar fashion.  I was there to support an SFTE STEM event to introduce young people to flight test.  Here is my LinkedIn post .   I also took the opportunity to create a campaign video to showcase my platform running for President of The Society of Flight Test Engineers.  Can't believe I am entering "politics!"

Three weeks of traveling solo, enjoying each phase and event as it happened.  Living in the NOW is the way to go! I so love traveling! This trip started with a 3-day excursion to Nashville, Tennessee to celebrate my grandson’s 4 th birthday.  Then jetting off to Vienna for the annual Society of Flight Test Engineers European symposium.   Upon arrival, I was asked to lead the presentation judging, which is an excellent way to stay focused and expand my knowledge.  The learning never stops!   talk was, “How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci in Flight Test ” It was based on the book of the same name.  It appeared to be well received and appreciated, which was somewhat of a relief, having spent the better part of 3 months writing it.  And then three months of labor distilled down to a 22-minute talk.  I hope I can present it again.  More of my thoughts about this amazing SFTE symposium are here . Engaging with new and old colleagues a...

The gamble paid off!  Even with COVID rising and sponsors pulling out, the board of the Society of Flight Test Engineers chose to go ahead with holding a hybrid symposium of both virtual and face-to-face attendees.  Listening to the amazing talks and connecting with professionals I had 3 big takeaways: 1.  There are some awesome and young aerospace talent in the business 2. In person events offer some important intangibles for communicating and connecting.  3. Hybrid events can work to connect more of a body and disseminate knowledge  My colleague and long-time friend James Sergeant (currently Director of Virgin Space Flight Test) received the prestigious Kelly Johnson award and the Bell team received the James S. McDonnel award for the flight test accomplishments of the Bell V-280.  Both awards richly deserved by the recipients.  And I got to meet board members whom I have been working but never met in person before.  Such a brave new world we a...