ERIK R. LINDBERGH

"What new benefits will be gained from better access to space? Where is the end of possibility? Where are the borders of imagination, reality, art or fact in the unlimited frontier of space? I don't know… But I want to find out! And I want to take you with me." – Erik R. Lindbergh

Personal Data

In the winter of 1965 Erik joined the Lindbergh family in Santa Barbara, CA… but he considers the Pacific Northwest his stomping grounds. He is an alpine and telemark ski racer and an avid back country skier. In the summer you will find him water skiing and mountain biking. If you see someone playing hacky sack in an airport, it's probably him. In spite of all this, he still finds time for woodworking, freestyle Frisbee, flying and hiking!

His unique sculpture and furniture designs are documented on www.LindberghGallery.com and have been featured in People Magazine, Sculptural Pursuit, the History Channel, NASA, and a national advertising campaign for Amgen. Seven of his rocket ships were the first bronze sculptures ever to fly into space!

An advocate of efficiency, Erik built and lives in a straw bale house in the Pacific Northwest.

Organizations

Erik Lindbergh is the grandson of Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh, and serves as Vice Chairman of the Lindbergh Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering his grandparents' vision of balancing technological advancement with environmental preservation.

From April 2002 through May 2005, Erik held the role of Vice President of the XPRIZE Foundation and has served on the board of trustees from 1996 to the present. The XPRIZE Foundation's mission is to enable radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. Contributing to this mission speaks to Mr. Lindbergh's soul. He said, "The XPRIZE has unleashed the potential for incentive prizes to be applied to the great technical, social, and environmental challenges of our time."

Erik actively promotes the work of the Arthritis Foundation, is a founding board member of the Aviation High School in Seattle and contributes to other non-profits in a variety of ways. "One of the most fulfilling aspects of my life has been my work with 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations. Time and time again, I am blown away by the people who dedicate their time, energy and money to helping others and making the world a better place.  It is very inspiring and empowering to feel like you are part of a team that is enabling positive change in someone's life, or indeed the world."

Education & Experience

Armed with a degree in Aeronautical Science and an inherited sense of adventure, in 2002 Erik retraced his grandfather's solo flight from New York to Paris in a small single engine aircraft. This epic personal journey documented by the History Channel, raised over one million dollars for three charities, garnered half a billion media impressions for the XPRIZE Foundation and prompted a call from President Bush for inspiring the country after the tragedy of September 11th.

Erik is a senior advisor to MVP Air and a member of the Explorers Club. Erik has a long-standing relationship with Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing, born out of his journey across the Atlantic in the Columbia 300. He currently works in public relations for Columbia.

For several years Erik was a Certified Flight Instructor, opening the world of flight to many Pacific Northwest pilots. He's currently the spokesperson for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots' Association's (AOPA) Project Pilot Program, a mentorship program that provides pilots in training with the support of an experienced pilot mentor.

A wonderful storyteller, Erik is a professional speaker with clients such as: The Mayo Clinic, Intel, Young Presidents Organization, Ace Hardware, The Arthritis Foundation, Microsoft, National Air and Space Museum, and The Explorers Club.