Shawn Coyle RIP
I never had the pleasure of meeting Shawn, but it sounds as if, from all your posts and comments, that he was a well respected and liked man.
Blue skies ahead, sir... Thank you for how you enhanced the knowledge base for those of us who are still down here...
RIP...
Blue skies ahead, sir... Thank you for how you enhanced the knowledge base for those of us who are still down here...
RIP...
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Mississippi - USA
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The helicopter world has lost a great man. Very sad news....
I've had the pleasure and honor to have Shawn as my instructor at the test pilot school. He taught me a lot, he knew so much and above all, he made it (almost !) easy to understand.
RIP Shawn, you'll be missed.
I've had the pleasure and honor to have Shawn as my instructor at the test pilot school. He taught me a lot, he knew so much and above all, he made it (almost !) easy to understand.
RIP Shawn, you'll be missed.
Join Date: Apr 1998
Location: Mesopotamos
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Most sad news. Shawn had an encyclopedia of worthwhile information to impart on the finer aspects of flying helicopters, always listened when he had a point to make on these forums and we are all the better for it.
RIP.
RIP.
I just received this from the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.
Rest in peace Shawn, you were a brilliant colleague, and a good friend.
G
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.
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.
G
Thanks, Guy. I was just about to post the SETP tribute when I saw you already had.
What a sad loss to the rotary and flight test community. His wisdom will live on.
RIP Shawn.
What a sad loss to the rotary and flight test community. His wisdom will live on.
RIP Shawn.
RIP and blue skies Shawn, I had the pleasure of meeting Shaun in Anaheim at Heli Expo 2009 and at time he was involved as a technical consultant to a case of an EC135 EMS crash with a crane in Washington DC (?)
Anyhow in my collection for decade is Cyclic and Collective which I will toast to you.
Condolences to Shauns family, friends and colleagues on here.
All the Best.
Anyhow in my collection for decade is Cyclic and Collective which I will toast to you.
Condolences to Shauns family, friends and colleagues on here.
All the Best.
