Wen Painter

Wen Painter was a pilot who exemplified a dedication to community service on the ground and in the air. , Wen served as a NACA and NASA Dryden engineer for decodes, on projects that included the Northrop HL-10 lifting body, which helped develop the Space Shuttle. After retiring from NASA, Wen joined the staff of the National Test Pilot School at the Mojave Air and Spaceport where he trained pilots at Mojave and around the world. , , During his flying career Wen earned multi-engine commercial pilot and flight instructor ratings and trained more than 100 pilots and taught Aeronautical Engineering at Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo. He also volunteered his services to promote aviation by introducing youngsters to aviation through the (EAA) Experimental Aircraft Association Young Eagles program, and as a founding board member of the Mojave Transportation Museum Foundation. , , Like so many of American’s astronauts and aviation pioneers, Wen began his education in a one-room schoolhouse in the American Mid-West. He served in the USAF 1953-1957.