David Mackay

David Mackay has been involved in aerospace for nearly 50 years, as an experimental test pilot who was trained in France, former Virgin Galactic Chief Pilot, as well as an astronaut. He is a member of The Explorers Club and flew his first Club flag on a mission to space in 2019, followed by a second in 2022. 

David was born and brought up in the far north of Scotland, where the seeds of his inspiration to fly and to become an astronaut were firmly planted. He ultimately achieved his ambitions and, in doing so, became newly and acutely aware of the scale and the importance of the Earth’s atmosphere, the beauty of our planet, and also its vulnerability. 

With his family’s ancestry almost exclusively from the north of Scotland, David is understandably passionate about the raw, unspoiled beauty of the region, and thrilled that PONANT EXPLORATIONS has recognized it as a special part of the world. He is delighted to be able to share his knowledge and experiences of life in the Scottish highlands and islands, its history, traditions and culture with travelers. In doing so, he will take guests on a journey: a story starting from the surface, traveling through the atmosphere to space, and back, highlighting some of the interdependencies of each.

Language spoken: English

Photo credit: Photo courtesy of David Mackay