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FROM THE RACETRACK TO SPACE: LEWIS HAMILTON EMBARKS ON A FLIGHT TRAINING FOR ASTRONAUTS
IWC Schaffhausen and the Polaris Program let Lewis Hamilton soar higher than ever before by offering him a flight training for astronauts. The same training is part of the organization’s program of preparing astronauts for space. During the training, the seven-time Formula One™ world champion and IWC brand ambassador pulled a maximum of 7.5 G, which is more than astronauts typically experience on ascent.
AN UNFORGETTABLE ADVENTURE
One of the most successful racing drivers of all time, Lewis Hamilton is a multifaceted personality, whose interests and ambitions extend far beyond his sport. The seven-time F1™ world champion is deeply fascinated by space and space exploration. As his record-breaking era with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One™ Team draws to a close, IWC Schaffhausen is excited to offer their longstanding brand ambassador a flight training as it is typically used to prepare astronauts for space.
FLIGHT TRAINING IS ESSENTIAL FOR ASTRONAUTS
Fighter jet training has been at the heart of human spaceflight since the beginning and was also a key pillar in the preparation of the Inspiration 4 and Polaris Dawn crews for their missions. While the G loads experienced in a jet or a rocket cannot be directly compared as they affect the body in different ways, jet training allows the crew members to familiarize themselves with operating in a high-risk and high-consequence environment, similar to what they would experience during launch.
A SEQUENCE OF TRAINING MANEUVERS
During his flight training with John “Slick” Baum, Philanthropy Director and instructor pilot of the Polaris Program, Lewis Hamilton performed a series of highly demanding maneuvers. The F1™ driver and his instructor practiced accelerations and decelerations to experience lateral G forces, simulating the ascent of a rocket. A particular highlights was flying a parabola figure for a zero-g demonstration, during which Lewis Hamilton briefly experienced the feeling of weightlessness.
DIBIA DREAM KIDS SEND A POWERFUL MESSAGE
The training was accompanied by students from Dibia DREAM, a nonprofit organization sparking social change through STEM education for underserved youth. Their presence was also a powerful reminder of Lewis Hamilton’s incredible journey, from his humble beginnings in karting at the age of eight to becoming one of the most acclaimed drivers in the history of motorsport. As the children cheered alongside the runway, they sent an uplifting message to youths around the world: If you train hard and stay focused, you can become anything you want in life – a racing driver, a pilot, or even an astronaut.
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