Bio of Kevin Kochersberger

Holding a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, Kevin Kochersberger is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology and a 1,400-hour pilot. While on sabbatical, he lead the testing of the Wright 1901 and 1902 gliders at the Langley Full Scale Tunnel in Hampton, Virginia.

In 1976, at 15 years old, Kevin's fascination with flying began when he built a Rogallo-wing hang glider from plans and flew with the other hang gliding pioneers at Jockeys Ridge in Nags Head, North Carolina.

In 1983 he earned his glider rating and two years later his power rating. He currently owns and operates a Piper Arrow and is an active flight instructor with the Blue Ridge Soaring Society. In 1996, Kevin advised a group of students on the construction of an 1896 Chanute-Herring hang glider replica. Before it went on display at the National Soaring Museum in Elmira, New York, Kevin had the chance to briefly fly the glider at the site of the original flights—the south shore of Lake Michigan—100 years later.

Data from the tests Kevin is coordinating with the Wright gliders at the Langley Full Scale Tunnel will be used to provide realism to the 1902 Wright Glider flight simulator and estimate handling qualities of the Wright aircraft.

Source: Countdowntokittyhawk.com