On April 19, 2021, while the world struggled through a global pandemic, something extraordinary happened in space. On that date, at 3:34 a.m. EDT, a 3.96-pound helicopter made its first flight on Mars. NASA’s Ingenuity was the first aircraft in history to make a powered, controlled flight on another planet.
Making this possible were several AMA members past and present, including Matt Keennon, project manager for AeroVironment, Inc. (avinc.com). Read Rachelle Haughn’s interview with Matt in Park Pilot magazine’s cover story from the summer 2021 issue.
As a young 77 year old AMA pilot I continue to learn what other pilots have achieved. In talking to my father who was a Navy pilot, I asked him how he returned home on night flights. He said to trust the instruments. In learning to fly my first person view drone it’s taken me several flights of trusting my eye wear and responding correctly. This is my way of being in the pilots seat. My son Christian M Timmins is a commercial pilot flying out of New Orleans. I’am proud of being from an aviation family.