Mark Ward, VP of Flight Test Team
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I joined Merlin in April 2024, bringing with me a background in the Coast Guard and work with industry leaders like Sikorsky and Wisk. Throughout my career, I’ve seen firsthand how much we rely on pilots and crews to handle complex, high-risk situations–times when technology like Merlin’s could have made all the difference.
That’s what excites me about being part of Merlin’s journey and the incredible potential of our work with the Department of Defense. With today’s technology, why not use it to create safer, more efficient solutions? The Merlin Pilot represents a major leap forward, not only for aviation but also in allowing the people behind the scenes to focus on what truly matters most, and safely.
Meet the Flight Test Team
Our Flight Test Team is responsible for rigorous testing and analysis that continuously refines the Merlin Pilot–stay tuned for an upcoming video and post on ground effect testing that we recently completed. The in-flight team typically includes 1-2 pilots, a flight engineer, and occasionally a scribe to log real-time data, while our ground engineering team analyzes this data as it streams in. Our objective is simple yet ambitious: capture the most precise data possible to make informed, calculated decisions for advancing the Merlin Pilot with the highest safety standards.
What makes our team unique is the balance we strike between speed and precision. Every aspect of each flight—take-offs, landings, pitch, roll, and yaw—is captured, logged, and analyzed, making each development stage of the Merlin Pilot safer and more effective.
A Unified Team with a Purpose
Our team brings together expertise across a range of industries, unified by a commitment to innovation and a passion for groundbreaking technology. Driving this innovation is the team’s unparalleled skill set, adaptability, and enthusiasm for tackling unique challenges.
For example, Sr. Flight Test Engineer and Experimental Aircraft Manager Brian Mesing describes his role as “teaching a new pilot how to fly,” though in this case the pilot is the Merlin Pilot. “The word ‘revolutionary’ gets used a lot in aerospace,” he says, “but what we are doing here is truly revolutionary.”
For Brian and the entire team, putting the Merlin Pilot through its paces is a rare privilege. From auto-maneuvers to precision landings, every test delivers new insights, each bringing Merlin one step closer to transforming the industry.
Balancing Pace and Precision
The Flight Test Team strikes a crucial balance between rapid progress and careful control, an approach that is especially important in the highly regulated aviation industry. Every step forward is measured, ensuring safety remains paramount. As Flight Test Engineer Garrett Conover (Grey) explains, “Flight ops is a tight-knit team of pilots and engineers who focus on planning and executing tests for new features while ensuring the safety of everyone onboard.”
This approach enables Merlin’s highly dynamic, data-driven development, to remain grounded in precision.
Shaping the Future of Flight
After years in the industry, I’ve come to deeply value the role of innovative, data-driven solutions in enhancing safety, and operational effectiveness. Merlin’s work is especially meaningful because the team isn’t just here to check boxes; running through the entire company is the belief that we’re making a real impact on the future of flight.
One standout example of the Merlin team’s dedication is their quick and seamless response to unexpected challenges. Whenever a need arises, everyone steps up to keep things running smoothly and efficiently, showing a level of dedication that is truly humbling.
Explore the future of flight with us. Merlin is growing, and we’re looking for both flight test and maintenance crew members, and more. Check out our open roles here!