Aviation and aircraft have largely defined my life since a young age. Such a technically complex pursuit demands the highest level of respect, learning and continuous improvement – these are values we bring each day to our work at Momentum.
Momentum co-founder Kyle Taylor started his aviation career designing and building model airplanes as a kid growing up in rural New England. A move to Alaska as a young man opened new frontiers of aviation and fostered his fascination with the practical uses of aircraft.
After honing his chops working summers at a float plane dock, he ventured back “south” to Renesselaer Polytechnic Institute, earning his degree in Aeronautical engineering.
With 19 years of experience in engineering practice, Kyle fills the Chief Engineer role at Momentum. He is an FAA Designated Engineering Representative (DER) with structural and powerplant authorizations for normal and transport category aircraft. Kyle is also a FAA Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR) with airworthiness certification authority.
He spends spare time sharpening flying skills as an active instrumented rated private pilot with over 1000 hours of flight time in numerous aircraft types, including many hours logged in experimental research and development aircraft. He is currently working on his commercial and twin engine ratings.
“My combination of operations, engineering, manufacturing and flying experience has informed a broad understanding of the FAA aircraft certification process. One of our greatest strengths as a company is the interconnected knowledge we have of the complete aircraft development and certification chain. We are adept at taking ideas from the figment of our client’s imagination, to a manufactured product lining up for takeoff.”
Supporting the helm at Momentum Aeronautics has provided Kyle an opportunity to work with an amazing team of engineers. During this process, he realized that profound engineering and manufacturing efforts are as much a technical as a social endeavor. He also came to realize that engineering was but only half the equation when it comes to adding real value to a client’s operations. “Anyone can engineer something horribly complicated and then lean back on their laurels in creative and smug admiration. Profound engineers understand the requirements of manufacturing and operations and leverage that knowledge to yield enduring solutions to their product development work. Our customers appreciate this well-rounded approach to efficiently and effectively bringing their visions to life.”
Kyle’s vision for Momentum is laser-focused on adding value to our client’s aircraft operations. He instills this vision into the engineering team daily by always considering practical use of the aircraft as it affects the design and certification decisions. “It brings me great joy to bring a practical vision to bear in the service of our clients. Momentum’s work embodies the notion that engineering is a means to an end, not the end itself. Our labor is not done until an airplane is returning from a successfully completed mission; even then, we have great respect for the support and maintenance work that follows our successful engineering path.”
Kyle currently lives in Stillwater, Minnesota with his beautiful wife and two young boys. On a typical weekend you might find them all at the hangar, taking off for another adventure in their Cessna 210.