Art Scholl
Encyclopedia
Arthur Everett Scholl was an American aerobatic pilot, aerial cameraman, flight instructor and educator based in Southern California. He died during filming of Top Gun
when his Pitts S-2
camera plane never recovered from a flat spin
and plunged into the Pacific Ocean
. Scholl's last words were "I have a problem — I have a real problem." The cause of the crash was a flat spin, which in normal situations, should not have been a problem for the experienced pilot. However, when he was filming the spin, the extra weight of the cameras caused the centrifugal force to hold him in the spin until he spiraled to his death. The airplane and body were never recovered.
Scholl performed across the United States and internationally from late 1950s to the mid-1980s. In the mid-1960s he was a professor and head of the Department of Aeronautics at San Bernardino Valley College
and an experienced pilot of midget air racers.
aircraft, renamed "Super Chipmunks" (FAA
registration numbers N13A, N13Y) and occasionally a third aircraft N1804Q (which is still flying today), before an estimated audience of 80 million people over 20 years and appeared in more than 200 motion picture features, documentaries and television commercials. The aircraft were recognizable for their red, white and blue livery and Pennzoil corporate sponsorship.
Scholl held four FAA
certificates. He was an Airline Transport Pilot
in multi-engine land and sea planes, with commercial privileges in airplane single engine land and airplane single engine sea, helicopters, and gliders. He held certificates as both a flight instructor
and ground instructor. In addition, he was also a certificated airframe and power plant mechanic
with an inspection authorization. In 1976 Scholl earned a Ph.D. in Aviation Management. He taught aeronautics at San Bernardino Valley College for 18 years, eventually becoming head of the department.
Scholl founded an aerobatics school and maintenance facility at Flabob Airport
in Riverside, California
. He converted it to a full service fixed base operation (FBO) when he moved it to Rialto Municipal Airport
, then known as Miro Field, in Rialto, California
in the late 1970s. He produced several highly successful air shows at Miro Field, attracting hundreds of thousands of spectators. Miro Field has since been renamed Art Scholl Memorial Field in his honor. Scholl's company, Art Scholl Aviation, continues to operate there and offers fuel, aircraft maintenance services, and aircraft mock-ups used in film and TV production.
Scholl's signature aircraft were his two Super Chipmunks; he bought his first in 1963, and his second one in 1968. His skill as a licensed aircraft mechanic helped Scholl in modifying the aircraft extensively; clipping its wings, adding retractable landing gear, converting them to single-seat, adding an autopilot and a much bigger engine. At the height of his popularity as an air show performer in the 1970s Scholl flew two Super Chipmunks, basing one on the East Coast and one on the West Coast. His Super Chipmunk was licensed to various model manufacturers for both flying and static models; collectors now actively seek the Cox control line model. Though less widely recognized, Scholl also owned and flew a Pitts S-2A in the same red, white, and blue livery. Another Art Scholl signature was his dog, "Aileron", who occasionally flew in the Super Chipmunk's cockpit with Scholl in his air show performances. Aileron was hugely popular with the crowds.
Bob Hoover
, the World War II
fighter pilot, former test pilot and fellow aerobatic pilot, was a close friend of Scholl. Hoover was often at Scholl's Rialto facility, where he also maintained a hangar for his aircraft.
Scholl's aerial camera work appeared in many Ridgewood school commercials, television shows and films, including The Right Stuff, The Great Waldo Pepper
, Blue Thunder
, The A-Team
, CHiPS
and Top Gun
, his final work in a motion picture. The last line of credits at the end of the movie Top Gun states "This movie is dedicated to the memory of Art Scholl."
Scholl was a member of the five-person team representing the United States in international competition from 1963 through 1972. In 1974, he won the U.S. National Aerobatic Championship in a Pitts S-2A.
Top Gun
Top Gun may refer to:* Top Gun is a 1986 film starring Tom Cruise.**Top Gun , soundtrack to the movie**Top Gun , a number of games based on the movie...
when his Pitts S-2
Pitts Special
The Pitts Special is a series of light aerobatic biplane designed by Curtis Pitts. It has accumulated many competition wins since its first flight in 1944...
camera plane never recovered from a flat spin
Spin (flight)
In aviation, a spin is an aggravated stall resulting in autorotation about the spin axis wherein the aircraft follows a corkscrew downward path. Spins can be entered intentionally or unintentionally, from any flight attitude and from practically any airspeed—all that is required is sufficient yaw...
and plunged into the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. Scholl's last words were "I have a problem — I have a real problem." The cause of the crash was a flat spin, which in normal situations, should not have been a problem for the experienced pilot. However, when he was filming the spin, the extra weight of the cameras caused the centrifugal force to hold him in the spin until he spiraled to his death. The airplane and body were never recovered.
Scholl performed across the United States and internationally from late 1950s to the mid-1980s. In the mid-1960s he was a professor and head of the Department of Aeronautics at San Bernardino Valley College
San Bernardino Valley College
San Bernardino Valley College is a community college located in San Bernardino, California. It is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The two-year college has an enrollment of approximately 25,000 students and covers...
and an experienced pilot of midget air racers.
De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk
The de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk is a tandem, two-seat, single-engined primary trainer aircraft which was the standard primary trainer for the Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Air Force and several other air forces through much of the post-Second World War years...
aircraft, renamed "Super Chipmunks" (FAA
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
registration numbers N13A, N13Y) and occasionally a third aircraft N1804Q (which is still flying today), before an estimated audience of 80 million people over 20 years and appeared in more than 200 motion picture features, documentaries and television commercials. The aircraft were recognizable for their red, white and blue livery and Pennzoil corporate sponsorship.
Scholl held four FAA
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
certificates. He was an Airline Transport Pilot
Airline Transport Pilot
Airline Transport Pilot may refer to:*Airline Transport Pilot License, an aviation certificate.*Flight Assignment: A.T.P., an MS-DOS game....
in multi-engine land and sea planes, with commercial privileges in airplane single engine land and airplane single engine sea, helicopters, and gliders. He held certificates as both a flight instructor
Flight instructor
A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an aviator in pursuit...
and ground instructor. In addition, he was also a certificated airframe and power plant mechanic
Aircraft Maintenance Technician
Aircraft maintenance technician, as used in the United States, refers to an individual who holds a mechanic certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration; the rules for certification, and for certificate-holders, are detailed in Subpart D of Part 65 of the Federal Aviation Regulations ,...
with an inspection authorization. In 1976 Scholl earned a Ph.D. in Aviation Management. He taught aeronautics at San Bernardino Valley College for 18 years, eventually becoming head of the department.
Scholl founded an aerobatics school and maintenance facility at Flabob Airport
Flabob Airport
Flabob Airport is a small public use airport located three nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Riverside, in Riverside County, California, United States. The airport is located in the city of Jurupa Valley beside the Santa Ana River...
in Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
. He converted it to a full service fixed base operation (FBO) when he moved it to Rialto Municipal Airport
Rialto Municipal Airport
Rialto Municipal Airport , originally called Miro Field, is a general aviation airport located three miles northwest of the central business district of the city of Rialto, in San Bernardino County, California, USA....
, then known as Miro Field, in Rialto, California
Rialto, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Rialto had a population of 99,171. The population density was 4,434.1 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Rialto was 43,592 White, 16,236 African American, 1,062 Native American, 2,258 Asian, 361 Pacific Islander, 30,993 from other...
in the late 1970s. He produced several highly successful air shows at Miro Field, attracting hundreds of thousands of spectators. Miro Field has since been renamed Art Scholl Memorial Field in his honor. Scholl's company, Art Scholl Aviation, continues to operate there and offers fuel, aircraft maintenance services, and aircraft mock-ups used in film and TV production.
Scholl's signature aircraft were his two Super Chipmunks; he bought his first in 1963, and his second one in 1968. His skill as a licensed aircraft mechanic helped Scholl in modifying the aircraft extensively; clipping its wings, adding retractable landing gear, converting them to single-seat, adding an autopilot and a much bigger engine. At the height of his popularity as an air show performer in the 1970s Scholl flew two Super Chipmunks, basing one on the East Coast and one on the West Coast. His Super Chipmunk was licensed to various model manufacturers for both flying and static models; collectors now actively seek the Cox control line model. Though less widely recognized, Scholl also owned and flew a Pitts S-2A in the same red, white, and blue livery. Another Art Scholl signature was his dog, "Aileron", who occasionally flew in the Super Chipmunk's cockpit with Scholl in his air show performances. Aileron was hugely popular with the crowds.
Bob Hoover
Bob Hoover
Robert A. "Bob" Hoover is a former air show pilot and United States Air Force test pilot, known for his wide-brimmed straw hat and wide smile. In aviation circles, he is often referred to as "The pilots' pilot."-Aviation career:...
, the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
fighter pilot, former test pilot and fellow aerobatic pilot, was a close friend of Scholl. Hoover was often at Scholl's Rialto facility, where he also maintained a hangar for his aircraft.
Scholl's aerial camera work appeared in many Ridgewood school commercials, television shows and films, including The Right Stuff, The Great Waldo Pepper
The Great Waldo Pepper
The Great Waldo Pepper is a 1975 drama film directed, produced, and co-written by George Roy Hill. It stars Robert Redford as a discontented airplane pilot in the years 1926-1931....
, Blue Thunder
Blue Thunder
Blue Thunder is a 1983 feature film that features a high-tech helicopter of the same name. The movie was directed by John Badham and stars Roy Scheider...
, The A-Team
The A-Team
The A-Team is an American action adventure television series about a fictional group of ex-United States Army Special Forces personnel who work as soldiers of fortune, while on the run from the Army after being branded as war criminals for a "crime they didn't commit". The A-Team was created by...
, CHiPS
CHiPs
CHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol...
and Top Gun
Top Gun
Top Gun may refer to:* Top Gun is a 1986 film starring Tom Cruise.**Top Gun , soundtrack to the movie**Top Gun , a number of games based on the movie...
, his final work in a motion picture. The last line of credits at the end of the movie Top Gun states "This movie is dedicated to the memory of Art Scholl."
Scholl was a member of the five-person team representing the United States in international competition from 1963 through 1972. In 1974, he won the U.S. National Aerobatic Championship in a Pitts S-2A.