Instructor Al Sohler

Welcome to

Apollo Training Team . Com

50th Anniversary Edition

ApolloTrainingTeam.Com

a space history website

Hugh W. McNeese

Supervisor & Team

Leader

The Apollo Training Program was designed to provide an integrated training program for the flight crew, controllers, launch operations, and NASA and contractor engineering personnel.

The same Apollo Engineering Instructors provided the training programs to each group of students. This resulted in total continuity of spacecraft systems information being presented throughout the program. The instructor engineers were among the most knowledgeable personnel on the Apollo Spacecraft systems functions and operation. Their ability to communicate this knowledge to others was second to none. As part of their preparation for subsequent flights, they monitored each flight from launch, Mission

Control Operations, and the actual flights through splashdown and recovery via audio and closed-circuit television.The differences between each spacecraft system, system operations and procedures were tabulated and presented to those personnel assigned to that flight.

There were no gaps in information, no dated information, nor any misinformation presented in this training program.

It should be noted that the F.A.A. requested that they be permitted to use Apollo Training's testing procedures and evaluation in their program. Permission was given of course.

7. Actual hardware used in demonstrations

8."Dry Run" (practice) presentations

Note: Apollo Training introduced the "dry run" to the entire Apollo program. Others gradually adopted it until it became a common practice

Welcome to Our Site !

Webmaster note:

This is a private and independent website, and as such, was prepared with the consent of participating team members only who provided personal data to proudly support Internet publication of their participation in the Apollo Missions

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Prior to joining North American Aviation, Al was employed by Hughes Aircraft Company where he was served as a Laboratory Instructor and Technician on the Fire Control System in the F-106 Fighter/Interceptor. After joining North American in 1962, he provided instruction on welding, electronics, and flight control for the XB-70 bomber. In 1962 he joined Nortronics briefly to instruct on the Skybolt air to ground missile. The subjects included guidance & control, and the startracker.

Al returned to North American Aviation's Space & Information Systems Division in 1962, where he was assigned to prepare and present training on the Apollo Guidance, Navigation and Control System to the NASA Astronauts, Flight Controllers & engineering personnel.

He also presented this training via multi-media to company and support contractor personnel. Also, Al served to develop and present Apollo program presentations to the Edwards AFB Test Pilot School. Al transferred to GN&C System Engineering as the training program for Apollo came to a close.

Al has retired and is living in the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California

Instructor AL Sohler

Guidance & Navigation System

Astronaut Borman Presents Awards

to AL & Don Bennet

Apollo program commendations & awards:

Letters from Astronauts Jack Swiegart, Richard Gordon, Jr., and Don Arabian, the Chief of the Test Division at the NASA.

Letters from Dale Meyers, Vice President of North American Rockwell, and Ed Smith, Chief Program Engineer.

Apollo Achievement Award from the NASA

Astronaut Personal Achievement Award with a Snoopy Pin from Astronaut Dick Truly.

Outstanding Performance award for presenting 1000 hours of classroom instruction on the Apollo. The award was presented by Astronaut Frank Borman.

A Group Achievement award for the Skylab Realtime Planning Team, presented by the NASA