On October 5, on the Community Day, held during the 29th Planetary Congress of the Association of Space Explorers (ASE), astronauts and cosmonauts conveyed the fascination of aeronautic activities across Austria. Diamond Aircraft Industries was one of the companies that welcomed a delegation at its headquarters in Wiener Neustadt.
Christian Dries, CEO and owner of Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH, greeted the astronauts Michael López-Alegría (NASA, USA), André Kuipers (ESA, The Netherlands), Randolph Bresnik (NASA, USA), Scott Altmann (NASA, USA), James Voss (NASA, USA), Mary Ellen Weber (NASA, USA) and Alexander Alexandrow (ROSKOSMOS, Russia). After a lecture and aircraft production tour, everyone took the chance to fly the two twin-engine planes DA62 and DA42-VI as well as the single-engine DA40 NG, or showed their pilot skills in Diamond Aircraft’s flight simulator.
Christian Dries: „I am very proud to welcome these guests at my company. When I was a little boy, I dreamed of being an astronaut. This dream led to a career in aviation, where I could do my bit for aeronautics.”
„I am very impressed with Diamond Aircraft. I have a friend, British TV star Carol Vorderman, who owns a DA42-VI. So, I knew the product before and found it fascinating. Diamond Aircraft is a real jewel in Austria.“ says Michael López-Alegría.
Mary Ellen Weber: „I had no idea of the amazing innovation happening here. You have so many great minds working at Diamond Aircraft. After getting the chance to fly your aircraft, I am even more impressed.”