I was very sad to just receive this email from SETP.
The Society was saddened to learn of the “Last Flight” of Shawn Coyle (M) on 19 June 2021. He was 71.
Shawn was born into a military family on 8 June 1950 to Donald and Helen Coyle. His dad retired as a CWO in the RCE, and Shawn's upbringing was mainly in Chilliwack, BC and North Bay, ON. Shawn always had an interest in flying, and his appetite was further wetted by his being awarded his Glider Pilot' Wings through Air Cadets in 1967.
He attended RRMC and RMC from 1969 to 1973, obtained a degree in Civil Engineering and completed his wings training on CF5s in 1974. He subsequently converted to helicopters and was posted to the 427 the following year. He spent a full tour with 427 and subsequently by his own desire was channeled into test flying. He was posted into the Empire Test Pilot Course at Boscombe Downs in the UK in 1979 and stayed on as an exchange officer until 1982 when he was posted to Canada's Aerospace and Engineering Test Establishment.
He left the CF in 1984 to serve as a test pilot for Bell Helicopters in Fort Worth, TX. and then instructed at US Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxtent River, MA from 1985 to 1989 and was the Principal Rotary Wing Instructor from 1989 to 1992 at the International Test Pilots School in Cranfield, England. He remained in the UK as an Independent Aviation Consultant until 95 and then came back to Canada to become an Engineering Test Pilot at Transport Canada to 2001. He then assumed Branch Chief responsibilities for the Helicopter Program at the National Test Pilot School in Mojave, CA until 2004. He subsequently had short stints as an Emergency Medical Service Pilot in Mojave, as Director of Flight Operation at Agusta in Philadelphia, and as Director of Certification at Aero simulators in Belgium and the USA until 2007. Since then, he had written extensively on aviation related topics, was often called upon for accident analysis and his expert testimony and published six major books on helicopter related topics.
Shawn's health had been deteriorating over the last few years, but he was active in accident investigations and sought after for his expertise until most recently.
He is survived by his wife Tricia; his children and grandchildren: Erin, Patrick and Katie as well as by their mother Beverly Coyle nee Nicholls. He is also survived by his brothers Allan and Eric.
Shawn, good luck with your test flight of your next set of wings.
I'm sorry to say that I'd been out of touch with Shawn for the last few years, but I counted him a friend, a very valued colleague and a brilliant writer on various aspects of aviation. He was a regular here on Pprune for some years and made some very highly valued contributions.
G