CMA presents "Wingsuits, Jazz, and Human Engines: The Dual Lives of JPLers"

Sometimes the curiosity and ambition that drive a person to excel in their chosen career, also help fuel a passion that leads to extraordinary outcomes. This is the first in a series of panel discussions celebrating the multifaceted interests and (sometimes unknown) talents of the people around us. Please join us as we learn about the passionate avocations of these JPLers:

Cate Heneghan is the world's record holder for speed and distance in wingsuit jumping. She also shares the state, national, and world records for wingsuit formation flying. Her ground speed has been clocked at 168 mph (and she describes that as her "slow" suit).

Chuck Manning has made thousands of appearances at jazz clubs and concert halls in Los Angeles, across the country, and in Asia and Europe. He has made dozens of recordings, including several of his own, and collaborated with some of the top jazz musicians in the world.  In the last few months, he's traveled to Changsha, China, with Grammy winner Bill Cunliffe to play for 50,000 jazz fans in that city's first-ever international jazz festival.

Bryan Allen is a self-taught hang-glider pilot and bicyclist. He achieved fame when he piloted the aircraft that won the first two Kremer prizes for human-powered flight—the Gossamer Condor (in 1977) and Gossamer Albatross (in 1979). He later set world distance and duration records in a small pedal-powered blimp named White Dwarf. 

This event is free. All members of the Campus and JPL communities and retirees are welcome. Because of security requirements, individuals without JPL badges must have a JPL employee or resident affiliate submit a visitor request and be their escort. The same requirements apply to retirees with expired badges or who have badges that don't say "JPL Retiree Access." Foreign person visitor requests must be submitted at least four working days before the event; U.S. person visitor requests must be submitted at least two working days before the event.

For assistance with Visitor Control or additional event information, contact David Delgado, at [email protected].

Your membership in CMA is what inspires us to bring great speakers and events to Caltech (Campus and JPL). If you enjoy attending these events, please support CMA so we can continue to provide the best in thought-provoking engagements. Membership is open to all active and retired employees of Caltech and to contract employees as affiliate members. See the CMA website for more information about our mission and how to join.