Brandon Winans

---

Why did you choose Aeronautics and Astronautics?
When I was five, I had the opportunity to take a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, Turkiye. Unfortunately, my younger brother was too little to see over the basket and therefore couldn't come. Mesmerized by the experience, I attempted to mimic the hot air balloon by tying strings and balloons to a laundry basket so he too could have a magical experience. Of course, the hot air balloon never took off. However, from that moment on, the fascination of flight never seemed to leave my mind. When it came time to choose my major, I knew I had to make my crazy childhood dreams a reality.

Best event or organization you’ve participated in within AAE?
I would have to say that the best event I participated in AAE was the watch party for Loral O'Hara going to space. It was super cool to watch the fearlessness, the complex launch system, and learn about the small quarters she had to stay in to become our university's 27th astronaut in space.

Best event or organization you’ve participated in outside of AAE?
Experiencing March Madness for the first time as a college student was a super memorable experience. I really enjoyed watching Purdue make it through the final four and seeing campus bursting in celebration afterwards.

Why did you want to be an AAE Ambassador?
When I applied to Purdue, I was applying from the other side of the world and didn't have any current Boilermakers to talk to about their experiences at the university, nor did I have the opportunity to visit campus. When I found out about the AAE Ambassador program, I jumped at the opportunity to apply so I could share my experiences with people from all over the world.

Favorite place on campus?
My favorite place on campus to study is probably the Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), but aesthetically, I really like the Armstrong Atrium because it reminds me of the Udvar-Hazy Center in Dulles, VA that my parents would take me to growing up.

Favorite class you’ve taken thus far and why?
My favorite class so far is AAE251: Intro to Aerospace Design. While there is a lot of information covered in this class, the ability to experience what it takes to build an aircraft early on in your college degree is instrumental in understanding the importance of each class you will have to take subsequently.  

What is one piece of advice you would give to a potential AAE student?
The one piece of advice that I would give to AAE students (or any engineering student in general) is not to be afraid of failure. Throughout your engineering degree, you will have a lot of opportunities to succeed and fail. The important thing is that you learn from your mistakes and keep going.

Who is someone you look up to in the Aero/Astro industry and why?
Going all the way back to the beginning of flight, I have to got to say that I look up to the Wright Brothers for dreaming of the impossible, when everyone else told them it could not be done. As part of AAE251, I had the opportunity to read a book on the Wright Brothers, and I didn’t realize the amount of things they had to come up with in order to create the first powered flight. Additionally, their persistence from failure to create the Wright flyer, given the amount of time it failed and succeeded, shows that they were able to make the impossible possible. 

What motivates you to succeed?
"The thing that motivates me most to succeed is the satisfaction of a job well done and the dreams of what the future may hold."

What is your ultimate career goal?
My ultimate career goal is owning my own company that pushes what is possible in the Aerospace industry.

What do you like to do when you’re not studying/in the lab or classroom?
I love anything that involves being outside, biking, swimming, or being at the beach (I guess the lake when I am in Indiana).

Favorite Fun Fact about Purdue?
Purdue was the first University to have its own airport and the first university to have a jet propulsion class (Our propulsion lab, Zucrow Laboratories, is named after the professor who taught the course, Professor Zucrow)