Contributed by Jared Esselman, Advanced Air Mobility Leader and Accredited Airport Executive
In the vast expanse of the Utah landscape, where towering mountains meet endless desert, a beacon of innovation stands tall—The Leonardo. Nestled in the heart of Salt Lake City, this cultural gem invites visitors on an immersive journey into Leonardo da Vinci’s expansive and rich intellectual interests, most prominently featured: FLIGHT. This stunning exhibit, a favorite of Salt Lake City aviators and amateurs alike, showcases the rich history, impact and promising future of aviation and aerospace in the Beehive State.
Utah has long been a hub of exploration and progress, and the story of flight in the state is as fascinating as it is impactful. From the early days of aviation pioneers to the cutting-edge technologies of the present, the skies above Utah have witnessed a remarkable evolution.
The Leonardo Museum, with its commitment to exploring the intersection of art and science, has played a pivotal role in preserving and promoting Utah’s aviation legacy. Established in 2011, the museum has become a haven for enthusiasts, students, and families, offering a hands-on, vibrant and engaging experiences that transcend traditional museum boundaries. Especially for people like Jared and Emily.
Jared Esselman is often referred to as the godfather of Advanced Air Mobility in Utah and is the head of Future Air Mobility at WSP in Salt Lake and the lead on electric aviation infrastructure at EP Systems in Logan. He has been an aviator since he joined the US Air Force in 2002. His passion for aviation runs deep and he passed that excitement for aviation and aerospace to his children.
Most know the feeling of getting to sit on dad’s lap and drive the car. Emily Esselman knows what it is like to sit on dad’s lap and fly the plane. Emily has been flying with her father since she was three years old. She loves airplanes, and she loves space exploration even more.
At the tender age of 9, if you ask her, ’what do you want to be when you grow up?’ She will not hesitate to tell you, “a space doctor!” And she means it.
Jared and Emily joined The Leonardo at an event on the Future of Flight. What they found according to Jared was, “lightning in a bottle. It takes one spark to ignite the imagination of a child (at any age) and set them on a path of exploration that leads to a career they are passionate about.” You could see that spark in Emily as she explored every exhibit.
This past summer that spark motivated Emily as she worked and earned the $1,500 necessary to pay her own way to NASA’s Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. Last week, as she walked through the Leonardo you could hear, “This is the SLS, that means Space Launch System. They’re going to use it on the Artemis missions. And this is the Apollo 11 mission…”
Most people can tell you what Neil Armstrong said when he first set foot on the moon, but Emily can tell you what Buzz Aldrin said, as well as the name of the third crew member who stayed in the lunar orbiter.
And that is the impact of the spark. That is what comes from lightning in a bottle. That is The Leonardo, and FLIGHT.
Visitors to FLIGHT will marvel at vintage aircraft, learn about the science behind flight, and even experience virtual simulations that take them soaring through the clouds. It’s a testament to The Leonardo’s commitment to making STEM education accessible and inspiring to children, youth, and adults.
The Future of FLIGHT wall, presented in collaboration with Utah State University, highlights some of the industry’s latest and greatest achievements, ones that all Utahans may be proud of. The most cutting edge initiatives in defense and aerospace are highlighted, along with stunning models that showcase new technologies and advancements in the field, innovations that are being generated by engineers right here in Utah.
As we celebrate The Leonardo Museum’s dedication to being Salt Lake City’s premiere STEAM informal education destination, we encourage the community to embrace The Leonardo’s place in central Salt Lake City’s Library Square: this place, and this space, are the platform to understanding and celebrating the cultural, economic, and community impact of FLIGHT on all of us.
Further, with over 32,000 Utah residents currently employed in the aerospace sector, FLIGHT and its STEAM focus drives the workplace pipeline, furthering the Utah legacy of innovation in the skies. Let us also look forward with anticipation – the skies above the Beehive State are destined to witness even greater feats of human ingenuity and exploration, and The Leonardo Museum is the community gem that will continue to tell that story.
For Utah, our educators, students, aviators, and aerospace workers, as well as the average museum go-ers to The Leonardo, the sky is not the limit, but the beginning of endless possibilities.