“It's amazing how the years fly by,” joked Professor Fasoulas when presenting the certificate for 40 years of the flight laboratory. At a young age, a jet flight awakened Thomas Gogel’s enthusiasm for flying, which he pursued intensively from the age of 14. As part of the Apollo generation, there was only ever one path for him - aerospace. “As an enthusiastic aviator and student here”, Thomas Gogel fought for the revival of the flight laboratory as a member of the student council at the time. With a clear safety concept and him as a permanent flyer, the Dornier DO 27 took off again in 1986.
“We are the Apollo generation.”
Thomas Gogel completed his studies at the University of Stuttgart with a dissertation at the Institute of Space Systems and then joined Lufthansa Technik AG. After holding various management positions there, he moved to Fairchild-Dornier in a management role in the development of the 728 jet. He then worked at Eurocopter as head of prototype construction for the Tiger, NH90 and research helicopters. At Airbus Helicopters Aviation Safety, he was promoted to Head of World Wide Network Management and German Sites and worked for a short time at BabcockAviation as Director for Maintenance and Engineering. Thomas Gogel has been Senior Expert Product Safety Enhancement at Airbus Helicopters since 2019.
“Every flight takes you away from normal life.”
The “Flight Laboratory” course at the Institute of Aircraft Design combines theory with practical flying experience. Thomas Gogel has already inspired over 4,000 students in Stuttgart and Augsburg. For him, flying is not an obligation. “I need to do some sky yoga again,” he smiles.
When asked what advice he would give to the next generation, he doesn't have to think twice: “Find a lifelong dream, a subject - and then don't let go!”. Thomas Gogel also emphasizes the current importance of the industry: “Flying and aerospace still have this spirit of optimism.”
On behalf of Faculty 6, we would like to thank Professor Dr. Thomas Gogel and look forward to retaining him as a valued team member.
