Chuck Coleman Gone West
The IAC is saddened by the news that Charles “Chuck” Coleman, a prolific aerobatic aviator, aerospace engineer, and experimental test pilot, passed away on October 20, 2024. Coleman, IAC 13952, has been a member of the IAC since January 1, 1987. He accumulated over 10,500 hours total time of flying during his lifetime with more than 4,300 hours in the Extra 300 series aircraft alone. He also performed in hundreds of airshows and gave 3000+ rides in aerobatic aircraft. (source 1)
Coleman was known for a long list of prestigious achievements in his career including working as the Senior Design Engineer on NASA’s High Alpha Research Vehicle, working as the Senior Engineer on the United States Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 conversion from combat-ready aircraft into performance planes, and with five other engineers, designing, constructing, and flight testing the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, the first jet powered aircraft to circumnavigate the globe non-stop without refueling. (source 2)
In addition to his engineering work, Coleman was a test pilot for the Proteus high altitude jet, conducted high-G astronaut training for SpaceShipOne astronauts, and was a chase pilot for SpaceShipOne flights. He also did stunt pilot work for films including Top Gun: Maverick, loved to perform in airshows, and flew aerobatic planes for Patty Wagstaff, Gene Soucy, Ian Groom, Tim Weber, Sean D. Tucker, Discovery Channel, Toyota Airsports, and Paramount Pictures. (source 2)
Coleman was known as a kind and extremely generous person. He was a flight instructor and was very giving of his time and resources. In a KFOX14 interview by Ariana Parra, a friend of Coleman’s stated, “The quality of Chuck's that stands out the most was just how generous he was with the resources that he had.”
He also stated, “He got to work on just a ton of fascinating things. . . One of the most memorable…was being recruited to be a flight instructor for actors like Miles Teller in the movie Top Gun: Maverick."
“That was something that he really got a kick out of,” Coleman’s friend stated. “Just giving them…their first experience before they went off to film the movie.”
When asked about Coleman’s legacy, his friend said, “He was loved and respected by many and had an enormous friend group, and he's going to be very, very sorely missed." (source 3)
Chuck Coleman's Memorial Service - Eventbrite invitation
A celebration of the life of Chuck Coleman is being held in March and will be a time for sharing memories, stories, and paying tribute to a beloved friend. Please come and show your support to Chuck's family and friends as we remember the wonderful person he was. Let's come together to celebrate his life and the impact he had on all of us. Your presence will mean a lot during this difficult time.
We are requesting photos of Chuck for a memorial video. If you have anything you'd like to include please send it to memorial4chuck@yahoo.com
Date: March 15, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM, Doors will open at 9:30
Location: Stu O Witt Event Center, 1247 Poole St.,Mojave, CA 93501
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chuck-colemans-memorial-service-tickets-1092535114939
Sources:
1. https://www.ctcoleman.com/thepilot.html
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Coleman
3. https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/friend-remembers-chuck-coleman-as-skilled-pilot-and-generous-mentor
Images from: https://ctcoleman.com/our-gallery/
