Dylan Dickstein (left) with Astronaut CJ Sturckow (right).
Dylan Dickstein: Flight is in the blood for AE Ph.D. student and aspiring astronaut
Unsurprisingly, the majority of recently selected astronauts have extensive flying experience. Whether learned in the armed forces or at a privately-owned flight school, understanding how to translate human mechanics to those of an aircraft is an essential skill for those in the business of working and living in space. Dylan Dickstein, a third year UCLA AE Ph.D. student and aspiring astronaut, has been honing such skills as he works toward his private pilot license (PPL). The budding rocket scientist has recently passed a major PPL milestone as he successfully flew his first solo flight on March 21st at Santa Monica Airport.
Dylan Dickstein knew he wanted to attain his PPL before acquiring his Ph.D., but was motivated to start this school year with the encouragement of Astronaut CJ Sturckow. Through connections made during his internship at Virgin Galactic and The Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship, Dickstein met CJ at Tehachapi Municipal Airport with the plan to co-pilot a glider. “It was my first time ever behind the controls of an aircraft and who better to learn from than the former commander of Space Shuttle Atlantis and Discovery. He was aware of my aspirations and put me to the test. Passing each of his challenges during the glider flight that summer day near the Mojave Desert gave CJ and myself an inkling that flight may be in my blood.”
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