Core Memory The First Bungee Jump, Space Weapons, Lunar Landers and Airships: Al Weston Has Done It All
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Mar 20, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Dr. Alan Weston, an aerospace engineer with a colorful past that includes early bungee jumping and developing space weapons, shares his extraordinary journey. He reveals his pivotal role in creating low-cost lunar landers at NASA and his innovative work with airships for Sergey Brin's startup. Weston also shares exciting stories, like flying a powered hang glider over London in a gorilla suit and insights into modern airship potential for green transport and humanitarian aid.
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Origin Of Modern Bungee Jumping
- Alan Weston and the Dangerous Sports Club invented modern bungee jumping by analyzing dynamics and jumping from bridges.
- The group was arrested, spent a night in jail, and were bound over to keep the peace by a magistrate.
Golden Gate Jump And Daring Escape
- The Dangerous Sports Club jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge during rush hour and some members escaped using a practiced rope-slide to a waiting speedboat.
- The police ultimately fined and confiscated ropes but the stunt generated widespread media attention.
Hang-Glider Gorilla Over Parliament
- In 1981–82 Weston flew a powered hang glider wearing a gorilla suit and playing a saxophone over Parliament and Buckingham Palace.
- He diverted into a cloud, escaped a trailing helicopter, landed north of London, and caught a flight back to the U.S.
