Project pilot flies on space shuttle
NASA astronaut Jay Apt took Project Pilot into space recently as he and fellow AOPA member Mission Commander William Readdy, aboard shuttle mission STS-79, took part in retrieving astronaut Shannon Lucid from the Russian space station Mir. Apt wore his Project Pilot cap in space during the mission, then presented the souvenir to AOPA President Phil Boyer during his Pilot Town Meeting in Austin, Texas, on November 12. "Project Pilot is a fantastic program, an outstanding aviation initiative," said Apt. "I'm glad I could do something to help publicize this effort to increase the number of student pilots."
An active general aviation pilot since 1971 and a Beech A36 Bonanza owner, Apt has logged more than 4,000 hours in some 25 different types of airplanes, seaplanes, sailplanes, and human- powered aircraft. "I'm probably the only pilot who's flown from human-powered to Mach 25 speeds," he said.
With a doctorate in physics from MIT, Apt joined NASA in 1980 and became an astronaut in 1986. He has more than 847 hours in space, including two space walks. He has also piloted the space shuttle, which he describes as a "good-flying aircraft, crisp on the controls with no overshoot and just a little cross-coupling."
NASA has put Apt's general aviation experience to good use. Most astronauts can visit only those communities with airline service or large airports, but Apt and his Bonanza can go to any of the thousands of community airports. He frequently asks NASA to schedule him to speak in communities that couldn't be visited by an astronaut except via general aviation.
Apt is optimistic about the future of general aviation in the United States, noting that companies are building exciting new aircraft.
"I've flown in a lot of different countries," said Apt, "and the regulatory environment in the United States is the best of any. That's due in large part to the efforts of AOPA."
More student pilots will guarantee that general aviation — and the thousands of community airports — will be here for the next generation of pilots.
AOPA members may join Apt in supporting AOPA Project Pilot by making a personal commitment to recruiting general aviation's next generation.
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