TED: My quest to defy gravity and fly | Elizabeth Streb

The speaker shares their lifelong obsession with flying, starting from childhood curiosity about movement. They recount personal experiments and realizations about human flight, emphasizing the importance of learning to land safely. The speaker founded STREB EXTREME ACTION, a company that explores extreme action and flight through innovative machines and public performances. They highlight the establishment of SLAM, a community space for learning and engaging in flying activities, promoting inclusivity and personal growth through action.

What childhood experience sparked the speaker's interest in movement and flight?

• Reading about the Wright Brothers

• Building model airplanes

• Catching a fly in a mason jar

• Watching birds fly

What realization did the speaker have about human flight during their experiments?

• Pain and fear need to be redefined

• Machines are unnecessary for flight

• Humans can fly like birds

• Flying is impossible for humans

What was the primary focus of the speaker's company, STREB EXTREME ACTION?

• Designing parachutes

• Training pilots

• Developing landing techniques

• Building airplanes

What inspired the speaker to create flying machines?

• A conversation with a pilot

• A quote by Wilbur Wright

• A dream about flying

• A visit to an aviation museum

What is SLAM, as described by the speaker?

• A dance studio

• A training center for extreme action

• A new type of aircraft

• A flight simulation program

What effect does learning to fly have on people, according to the speaker?

• It makes them dislike flying

• It increases their self-esteem and bravery

• It causes them to become more cautious

• It makes them more fearful

What did the speaker and their team do in London in 2012?

• Gave a lecture on aviation history

• Conducted a flight experiment on the London Eye

• Performed a dance routine

• Opened a new SLAM center