Chuck Aaron
Chuck Aaron | |
|---|---|
 Aaron in 2011 | |
| Born | 21 November 1948[1] |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | TAH-1F Cobra Helicopter Aerobatics Red Bull Air Force |
| Awards | Art Scholl Showmanship (2009) SETP Member (2011) Living Legend of Aviation (2013) HAI Pilot of the Year (2014) |
| Aviation career | |
| Full name | Charles Aaron |
| First flight | 1968[1] |
| Flight license | Fixed-Wing & Helicopter Pilot,[2] Helicopter Aerobatics (2005) (all FAA) |
| Website | chuckaaron |
Charles "Chuck" Aaron (call sign "Malibu") is the only pilot licensed by the FAA to perform aerobatics in a helicopter in the United States,[3] and one of only three such pilots in the world.[4] In 1980, Aaron worked on the air rescue program for NASA's Space Shuttle, and he founded his own company, FX Helicopters in Westlake Village, California in 1997.[5] Aaron made his last performance at the 2015 Red Bull Air Race World Championship in Las Vegas.
Aaron is also an experienced test pilot, having test-flown a tracking system for the Boeing AH-64 Apache; and an infrared vision system as the first helicopter pilot to deliberately fly into brownout conditions. He is also an FAA certificated Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic, and has assembled three working TAH-1F Cobras from surplus parts.[6]
Aaron performs aerobatic maneuvers—loop, roll, vertical climb, Split S, Cuban Eight, Immelman, and "Chuckcevak" (modified Lomcovak)—at air shows and other demonstrations in an MBB Bo 105, with proprietary modifications invented by Aaron, that allow it to perform maneuvers previously impossible for helicopters.[5] This was featured in the opening sequence of the James Bond film Spectre.[7] He serves as Chief Pilot and Director of A&P Maintenance for the Red Bull Air Force.[5] One of Aaron's TAH-1F Cobras is flown on the European air show circuit, by "The Flying Bulls".[5] It was heavily damaged in an accident in May 2017 [8]felony in Florida
Awards
- 2009 Art Scholl Showmanship Award – International Council of Air Shows (first helicopter pilot so honored)[9]
- 2011 Member – Society of Experimental Test Pilots[5]
- 2013 Inductee – Living Legends of Aviation
- 2014 Pilot of the Year Award – Helicopter Association International[5]
References
- ^ a b "Chuck's Details". Chuck Aaron. Red Bull. 2013.
- ^ Fawkes, Gregg (28 January 2003). "Upgraded: Chuck Aaron, Julia Schmitt". Aero News Network.
- ^ Paur, Jason (1 June 2011). "Licensed to Loop: America's Only Aerobatic Copter Pilot". Wired.com.
- ^ Cotnoir, Stephanie (17 June 2013). "Chuck Aaron: a Living Legend of Aviation". RotorNation.com.
- ^ a b c d e f Padfield, R. Randall (25 February 2014). "Pilot of the Year Award: Chuck Aaron". HAI 2014 Heli-Expo News. AINonline.
- ^ Helicopter Association International (26 February 2014). "Salute to Excellence Awards". HAI (rotor.com).
- ^ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-11-04/every-single-expensive-thing-in-james-bond-s-spectre-explained
- ^ https://airshowinfo.hu/airshowfeed/2017/05/25/flying-bulls-cobra-crashed-in-tyrol/
- ^ "Chuck Aaron". Red Bull Air Force. Red Bull.