From the racetrack to space, Lewis Hamilton swapped car engines for jet packs as he embarked on the Polaris Program.
The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team driver was put through his paces on the same flight training undertaken by astronauts.
The same program, supported by IWC, was used to prepare the crews of the Inspiration 4, and Polaris Dawn human spaceflight missions – the first ever commercial spacewalk.
Experience in piloting jets was an essential requirement for early space exploration, allowing crew to practice operating in a high-risk, high-consequence environment.
Crew also become accustomed to communicating and operating critical technology while pressed down into their seats by several times their own body weight.
The seven-time Formula One world champion was captured for a short film by IWC Schaffhausen alongside the Polaris Program’s instructor pilot, John “Slick” Baum.
Taking to the L-39 Albatros jet with a series of complex manoeuvres to experience lateral g-forces and zero-g demonstrations, Hamilton pulled a maximum of 7.5 g in flight, which is more than astronauts typically experience on rocket ascent.
Another highlight was flying a parabola figure for a zero-g demonstration, during which Hamilton briefly experienced the feeling of weightlessness.
A racing glove, which floated freely in the cockpit, was used as a zero-g indicator.
Chris Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen, said: “Since Lewis Hamilton became an IWC Brand Ambassador in 2013, we have created so many unforgettable moments and memories together. As his record-breaking era with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team now draws to a close, we are excited to give him an opportunity to complete flight training for astronauts and bring him one step closer to space exploration.”
During the training day, Hamilton and IWC Schaffhausen were accompanied by students from Dibia Dream, a non-profit organisation fostering STEM education.
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