Chuck Coleman
Chuck Coleman offers aerobatic rides and flight training in his Extra Flugzeugbau 300L aircraft from Southern (Los Angeles or Mojave) and Northern California (Cameron Park). Flights can be equipped with wing and cockpit cameras to capture video and audio of your flight for no extra charge.
Chuck is an engineer, airshow pilot, test pilot, and flight instructor with over 10,000 hours total flight time and more than 4,100 hours in the Extra Flugzeugbau 300 series aircraft alone. He has performed in hundreds of airshows and given over three-thousand rides in aerobatic aircraft. He has been deployed around the world in aircraft such as Burt Rutan's Proteus utilized for scientific research. Chuck has also performed chase duties for programs such as the Collier Trophy winning SpaceShip One designed by Burt Rutan, and performed at hundreds of airshows.
Coleman has an Aerospace Mechanical Degree from the University of Michigan. He is also an FAA licensed Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Mechanic with Inspection Authorization (IA). He gives instruction in unusual attitudes, and International Aerobatic maneuvers. You can also request something you’d like to try out in the sky!
Coleman is a member of the Screen Actor Guild (SAG). He provided aerial support for the documentary "Black Sky'' which won the Peabody Award. Chuck also was an aerobatic flight instructor for the actors in Top Gun: Maverick, dubbed “Tom Cruise’s School of Flying.” He flew 140 flights in order to prepare the actors to fly in Navy F-18 Hornets. You can check out his film and TV roles on IMDB!
With an extensive background in airshows, Coleman offers insight to performers, producers, sponsors, media, VIPs and the TV/film industry through interviews and flight demos. Coleman's Extra 300L can be equipped with multiple video cameras to capture aerial events for film and TV.
Coleman is a proud member of ICAS (International Council of AirShows), SETP (Society of Experimental Test Pilots), SAG (Screen Actor’s Guild) EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association), AOPA (Aircraft Owner and Pilot’s Association) IAC (International Aerobatic Club), AAIA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics), and many others. He has worked for Scaled Composites, Virgin Galactic, The SpaceShip Company, Toyota Air Sports, McDonnell Douglas, BD Jet Corp, VisionAire, Patty Wagstaff, Gene Soucy, Ian Groom, Tim Weber, Sean D. Tucker, ICON Aircraft, Paramount Pictures, and others.
The Pilot
Chuck Coleman is an engineer, airshow stunt pilot, test pilot, and flight instructor with over 10,500 hours of total time flying. Coleman has more than 4,300 hours in the Extra Flugzeugbau 300 series aircraft alone. He has performed in hundreds of air shows around the U.S. and given over three-thousand rides in aerobatic aircraft. In addition, Coleman has been deployed around the world as an internationally recognized test pilot in aircraft such as Burt Rutan's Proteus, a high altitude, long duration plane capable of flying to a ceiling of 63,000 feet for up to 14 hours. He also flew as the chase pilot for SpaceShipOne.
Recently, Coleman was a test pilot for ICON, and flight tested the ICON's A5 amphibious light-sport airplane by performing FAA certification profiles and first flights on twenty-five ICON A5s. Coleman is also an Associate Fellow in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP).
The Aircraft
The Extra 300L is an unlimited two-seat aerobatic aircraft certified in the Standard Category, constructed of high strength composite materials. The aircraft is FAA certified to +/- 10 Gs, and with two people onboard it is certified to +/- 8 Gs. The powerplant is a fuel-injected Lycoming AEIO-540 which produces 300 horsepower. Having an empty weight of ~1400 lbs makes the horsepower to weight ratio very high allowing the Extra 300L to almost hover.
Want to Improve Your Flying Skills?
Chuck Coleman focuses on advanced flight training which incorporates every type of aerobatic maneuver, formation, and recognition, and recovery of unusual attitudes. Coleman teaches the many aspects of aerobatics utilizing a custom set of maneuvers based on the student's past experience, needs, and aspirations by customizing every flight lesson. Many students come to Coleman to learn International Airshow Club (IAC) and airshow routines, tail wheel, upset training, and familiarization with the Extra300L Flugzeugbau.
The front passenger seating with full dual controls allows for an unmatched dual instruction environment. The visibility through the one-piece canopy is also a feature that makes flying aerobatics even more satisfying! Coleman has performed chase duties for programs such as the Collier Trophy winning SpaceShip One designed by Burt Rutan, and has flown at hundreds of airshows.
Flights performed at the Mojave Air and Space Port, California, or Cameron Air Park, California. Request repositioning to accommodate your convenience. Pricing $420 for dual instruction in Extra 300L per Tach-Time hour with no other expenses. Use of GoPro’s is at no charge.
Camera mounts are positioned to record video of the passenger in the front seat of the cockpit. Cameras are also strategically placed in various places such as the wings, tails, and fuselage to capture the passenger during flight and aerobatic maneuvers.
Pilot Ratings and Flight times
- ATP - Airline Transport Pilot Multi-Engine
- Commercial - Single Engine, Glider, Seaplane, Helicopter, UAV
- CFII, MEI - Certified Flight Instructor, Single and Multiengine, Instrument 10,262 hrs total flight time
- 1,249 PIC hrs Jet/TurboProp
- 4,005 hours Extra 300L series aircraft
- 1st Class Aviation Medical
- High Altitude endorsement
- Held LOAs in the Proteus and BD-10 jet
- flight time of over 1000 hrs in aircraft Chuck constructed
- ~1,000 hrs. in drones (mostly in DJI Mavic)
- FAA Part 135 endorsement
- 158 aircraft types flown
- US Parachuting Association - B License
- A&P (FAA- Airframe and Powerplant License)
- IA (FAA- Inspection Authorization)
Flight Instruction
Advanced Flying Training Course
Chuck Coleman focuses on advanced flight training which incorporates every type of aerobatic maneuver, formation, and recognition, and recovery of unusual attitudes. Coleman teaches the many aspects of aerobatics utilizing custom set of maneuvers based on the student's past experience, needs, and aspirations by customizing every flight lesson. Many students come to Coleman to learn International Airshow Club (IAC) and airshow routines, tail wheel, upset training, and familiarization with the Extra300L Flugzeugbau.
The front passenger seating with full dual controls allows for an unmatched dual instruction environment. The visibility through the one-piece canopy is also a feature that makes flying aerobatics even more satisfying! Coleman has performed chase duties for programs such as the Collier Trophy winning SpaceShip One designed by Burt Rutan. Chuck Coleman specializes in training for International Airshow Club (IAC) routines and, tail wheel, upset training, and familiarization with the Extra300L Flugzeugbau.
Flights performed at the Mojave Air and Space Port, California, or request repositioning to accommodate your convenience. Pricing $420 for dual instruction in Extra 300L per Tach-Time hour with no other expenses. Use of GoPro’s is at no charge.
Aerobatic Rides
Experience the thrill and excitement of an aerobatic flight as you loop, roll, spin, attempt to fly backwards and tumble end-over-end. You can enjoy the thrill of pulling even more Gs than military fighter pilots! (+8 Gs max)! Passengers can also experience the joy of weightlessness and simulate an actual reentry of a spaceship.
Fly aerobatic maneuvers yourself and feel the awesome exhilaration of an unlimited certified aircraft, the Extra 300L. You can expect to have fun; safely with an experienced air show stunt pilot! Best of all, you, the passenger, can request any type of maneuver imagined, personalize your flight, and fly the plane, even if you’re not a pilot!
An aerobatic flight experience from preflight, flight time, and debrief will take about 1.5 Hours. Each flight typically lasts thirty-five minutes which includes the ability to control the aircraft. You will enjoy loops, spins, rolls, tumbling end-over-end while experiencing high Gs and you enjoy the thrill of many of the maneuvers performed during an airshow. The cost for an aerobatic flight is $380.
This cost includes photograph and video footage from GoPros mounted in the interior and exterior of the plane.
Flights can be scheduled from the Mojave Air and Space Port, California, or Cameron Air Park near Sacramento, California. Additionally, you can request repositioning to a different airport near you for your convenience for a repositioning fee.
