I find this extraordinary: the CEO is also the test pilot

[MountainDude]

That is the coolest CEO in aviation, in my opinion.
"BETA’s founder, CEO, and test pilot Kyle Clark took the production version of its ALIA eCTOL up for its first flight, as seen in the video below."

Beta Technologies founder completes first test flight in its production-intent eCTOL [Video]

All-electric aircraft developer BETA Technologies has shared another important milestone in bringing its first two vessels to market. Most recently,...

electrek.co

 

[asicer]

The movie The Aviator (Howard Hughes) comes to mind.

 

[DavidWhite]

There was a CEO of a submarine company who was also the test pilot. I wonder what he’s up to these days?

 

[2-Bit Speed]

There was a CEO of a submarine company who was also the test pilot. I wonder what he’s up to these days?

When discussing submarines/submariners, wouldn't it be more apt to ask, "What's he down to?"

 

[texasclouds]

When discussing submarines/submariners, wouldn't it be more apt to ask, "What's he down to?"

That particular guy is down to fish poop near the Titanic ruins.

 

[MauleSkinner]

That particular guy is down to fish poop near the Titanic ruins.

well, at least he proved everybody wrong that said he'd never be ****.

 

[ateamer]

There was a CEO of a submarine company who was also the test pilot. I wonder what he’s up to these days?

About 6000 PSI.

 

[Omalley1537]

There was that one guy that was “good with that”….

 

[AvNavCom]

I have a reasonable amount of respect for a CEO who is willing to put himself on the line to prove his product. That's a fairly unimpeachable demonstration of belief in what he's trying to bring to market.

 

[AV8R_87]

While I respect his determination, I'd probably stick to one job or another if I were him.

 

[Martin Pauly]

Reminds me of the very early days of aviation, where the engineer who designed the airplane was typically also the very first test pilot. It greatly accelerated progress in aircraft design as it helped eliminate design principles of aircraft that turned out to be not safe. Somewhat macabre, yes, but oh so effective!

- Martin

 

[AvNavCom]

Reminds me of the very early days of aviation, where the engineer who designed the airplane was typically also the very first test pilot. It greatly accelerated progress in aircraft design as it helped eliminate design principles of aircraft that turned out to be not safe. Somewhat macabre, yes, but oh so effective!

- Martin

Indeed. If you only get to have one bad idea, you're highly motivated to ensure that your ideas are good ones!

 

[flyingron]

Has happened before. THe BD-10/Peregrine killed a couple of CEOs.

 

[Groundpounder]

it was the first production model, not the first flight of a new design, so there was a lot less risk.

But BETA is his passion project, so why not let him have some of the fun?

 

[Half Fast]

Reminds me of the very early days of aviation, where the engineer who designed the airplane was typically also the very first test pilot. It greatly accelerated progress in aircraft design as it helped eliminate design principles of aircraft that turned out to be not safe. Somewhat macabre, yes, but oh so effective!

- Martin

"In those early days, the Chief Engineer was almost always the Chief Pilot as well. This had the automatic result of eliminating poor engineering very early in aviation."
- Igor Sikorsky

Inspiring Quotations – Igor I Sikorsky Historical Archives

sikorskyarchives.com

 

[Martin Pauly]

"In those early days, the Chief Engineer was almost always the Chief Pilot as well. This had the automatic result of eliminating poor engineering very early in aviation."
- Igor Sikorsky

Inspiring Quotations – Igor I Sikorsky Historical Archives

sikorskyarchives.com

Thank you, @Half Fast - I knew there was a famous quote there somewhere, but I couldn't remember who it was.

- Martin

 

[asicer]

it was the first production model, not the first flight of a new design, so there was a lot less risk.

As opposed to say

or

 

[AV8R_87]

"In those early days, the Chief Engineer was almost always the Chief Pilot as well. This had the automatic result of eliminating poor engineering very early in aviation."
- Igor Sikorsky

Inspiring Quotations – Igor I Sikorsky Historical Archives

sikorskyarchives.com

Here's what's further down the page where that quote is from:

"The difference is positive and definite. Right means success; wrong means the neck, together with most of the other bones, will be broken. Permitting myself to dream of the destinies of mankind, I thought how wonderful it would be if similar natural laws were to regulate some other branches of human activities. Take, for instance, the case of stubborn radicals with lust for power, who make a career and personal success by using wrong principles. How much better it would be if, as the result of the wrong ideas, they would break their own necks rather than spread misery to a multitude of unfortunate, trusting people. What wonderful progress would humanity make if foolish and false ideas in philosophy of life and political economy eliminated themselves, with their creators, as completely as the mistakes of a pilot-designer eliminated him and his machine."
Igor Sikorsky - The Story of the WINGED-S

 

[Rockymountain]

Inspirational when people put skin in the game, but developing aircraft is not without risk. The CEO of Sonex died in an experimental Sonex. And the wife of the CEO of Epic died in an experimental Epic.

 

[NoHeat]

developing aircraft is not without risk. The CEO of Sonex died in an experimental Sonex.

That's certainly true. AOPA's story about the crash here. He was a designer of Sonex aircraft like the Onex. But the stories I read didn't mention whether the fatal flight was actually a test vs just a regular flight that went bad -- I'm still wondering about that.