34. Top Gun training and test pilot stories, with Chuck Coleman

34. Top Gun training and test pilot stories, with Chuck Coleman

Author: Sporty's Pilot Shop September 13, 2022 Duration: 33:32

Test pilot. Airshow pilot. Instructor for Top Gun: Maverick actors. Chuck Coleman might have one of the most interesting resumes in aviation, and he has plenty of stories to back up this experience. He talks about training actors to pull Gs for Tom Cruise's blockbuster movie, working with Burt Rutan on the SpaceShip One project, and what it's like to fly the Proteus high altitude jet. In the Ready to Copy segment, Chuck answers whether the Icon A5 is a safe airplane, shares the hardest airplane to fly that he's ever logged time in, and describes the most important character trait for a homebuilder.

Fly with Chuck: https://ctcoleman.com

Actor training for Top Gun: https://youtu.be/yM389FbhlRQ

Sporty's Pilot Training app: http://sportys.com/discover


There’s a particular kind of conversation that happens in the cockpit or after a flight, where the real stories and honest opinions come out. Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's captures that feeling, sitting down for genuine talks with some of the most compelling people in aviation. You’ll hear from flight instructors breaking down the real challenges of training, alongside airshow performers sharing the moments that truly tested their skill. Each episode goes deeper than the usual hangar talk, aiming to connect with anyone who feels that pull to the sky. Wrapping up every conversation is a favorite segment, “ready to copy,” a rapid-fire round that cuts past the cliches to reveal what each guest truly believes. This podcast, presented by Sporty's Pilot Shop, is built for those who live and breathe flying, offering a mix of grounded advice and unforgettable stories from the people who know aviation best. It’s about the shared language and passion that defines the flying life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's
Podcast Episodes
Bonanzas, Gulfstreams, and airlines, with Adrian Eichhorn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:51
Whether he’s circling the globe in his Bonanza or crossing the Pacific in a Gulfstream, Adrian Eichhorn says he monitors four key risks on every flight. In this episode, he explains why they matter and how preflight prep…
Flying passengers to space, with Mike Masucci [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:04
As an astronaut for Virgin Galactic, Mike Masucci flies one of the most unique aircraft ever built, but at the end of the day he says his job is to be a great glider pilot. In this fascinating episode, he takes us inside…
Thinking about thinking, with Dr. Kenneth Stahl [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:58
Making good decisions is a critical skill for safe flying, but it’s something most pilots rarely think about. Not Ken Stahl. He explains how to think smarter, especially under pressure, with valuable insights from his ex…
How drones and airplanes can coexist, with Christian Ramsey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:40
Should drones have the right of way over airplanes? The FAA has proposed just that (under certain conditions) in its recent Part 108 rule, but Christian Ramsey says it doesn’t have to be bad news for GA pilots. The UAS e…
Fighting forest fires from a DC-6, with David Gagliardi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:29
David Gagliardi has spent many summers flying big airplanes at low altitude, dropping fire retardant on wildfires all over North America. In this episode, he takes us behind the scenes, explaining how pilots maintain sit…
Designing a brand new sport plane, with Steve Wood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:19
Designing a clean sheet airplane and introducing it to the world by flying to Oshkosh is a bold plan, but that’s exactly what Steve Wood did this year. He tells us all about the Spirit Engineering SE-1, including why sta…
Single pilot jet safety tips, with David Miller [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:01
Flying a turbine airplane like a Citation Mustang requires a new approach to training and procedures. Longtime jet pilot and safety expert David Miller shares what he’s learned over 50+ years of flying, including how to…
How to buy a used airplane, with Mark Pilkington [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:51
Experienced airplane broker and all-around Cessna expert Mark Pilkington shares invaluable tips for avoiding disaster when buying an airplane, including his advice for first-time buyers, the right way to do a pre-buy ins…
Learning to travel by light airplane, with Tom Haines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:08
Learning to fly does not mean learning to travel by light airplane. In this episode, longtime aviation journalist Tom Haines shares tips he’s learned from a lifetime of cross-country flying in piston airplanes, including…
Realistic career advice for pilots, with James Onieal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:23
The job market for pilots has been through some wild swings lately, but aviation career coach (and former airline pilot) James Onieal says it’s neither as good nor as bad as you might think. He offers frank advice about…