Charlie Hillard
Encyclopedia
Charlie Hillard was an American aerobatics
pilot, and the first American to win the world aerobatics title
.
Hillard formed the Red Devils aerobatic team in 1971 with fellow pilots Gene Soucy
and Tom Poberezny
. In 1979 the three re-formed as the Eagles Aerobatic Team, which they would fly as for more than 25 years, setting the record for the longest-running aerobatic team with the same members in the world.
In 1996 he was killed at the Sun 'n Fun
fly-in in Lakeland, Florida, when the Hawker Sea Fury
he was flying overturned after landing in a crosswind.
. At the age of 16, he secretly began taking flying lessons, having saved enough money working at his father's car dealership. He would purchase his first airplane, a Piper Cub
a few years later, while attending Georgia Tech
.
In 1958, at the age of 20, Hillard joined the US skydiving team, and became the first person in the US to pass a baton in freefall. The same year, he began flying aerobatics
at airshows. In 1967, he won the National Aerobatic Championship, and in 1972, won the World Aerobatics Championship, the first American ever to do so.
aircraft, and were a popular draw at airshows around the country. In 1979, aircraft designer Frank Christensen invited the team to test fly a new aerobatic aircraft he had designed: the Christen Eagle. The Devils were so impressed that they switched their team aircraft to the Eagle, and renamed the Red Devils to the Eagles Aerobatic Team, with Charlie Hillard as the lead pilot. The Eagles Aerobatic Team would fly together for more than 25 years, and 1000 performances, setting a record for the longest-running aerobatic team with the same members.
During this time, Hillard also flew as a pilot for Hollywood, in the movies Aces: Iron Eagle III
and Cloud Dancer
, as well as the TV movie Skyward.
. It was in this aircraft that he was killed on April 16, 1996, when the aircraft flipped over upon landing, following an aerobatic performance at the EAA
Sun 'n Fun
fly-in in Lakeland Florida. He had over 15,000 hours of flight time at the time of his death.
Aerobatics
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sport...
pilot, and the first American to win the world aerobatics title
FAI World Aerobatic Championships (WAC)
The FAI World Aerobatic Championships is a competition in sport aviation organized by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, the world air sports federation.The WAC was formed in 1960, replacing the freestyle Lockheed Trophy contests....
.
Hillard formed the Red Devils aerobatic team in 1971 with fellow pilots Gene Soucy
Gene Soucy
Gene Soucy is an American aerobatics pilot. The son of 2 pilots, he would wash airplanes at a local airport in exchange for flight time while growing up in Kentucky. He soloed in a glider at age 14, and in a regular airplane at 16....
and Tom Poberezny
Tom Poberezny
Tom Poberezny , has been the Chairman of the annual Experimental Aircraft Association Fly-In and Convention from 1977 to 2011, and president of EAA from 1989 to 2010.Tom took over from his father Paul Poberezny who founded EAA in 1958....
. In 1979 the three re-formed as the Eagles Aerobatic Team, which they would fly as for more than 25 years, setting the record for the longest-running aerobatic team with the same members in the world.
In 1996 he was killed at the Sun 'n Fun
Sun 'n Fun
Sun 'n Fun is a "Fly-in" and airshow held annually at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida, usually during the second or third week of April....
fly-in in Lakeland, Florida, when the Hawker Sea Fury
Hawker Sea Fury
The Hawker Sea Fury was a British fighter aircraft developed for the Royal Navy by Hawker during the Second World War. The last propeller-driven fighter to serve with the Royal Navy, it was also one of the fastest production single piston-engined aircraft ever built.-Origins:The Hawker Fury was an...
he was flying overturned after landing in a crosswind.
Early life
Charlie R. Hillard was born March 22, 1938 in Fort Worth, TexasFort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
. At the age of 16, he secretly began taking flying lessons, having saved enough money working at his father's car dealership. He would purchase his first airplane, a Piper Cub
Piper J-3
The Piper J-3 Cub is a small, simple, light aircraft that was built between 1937 and 1947 by Piper Aircraft. With tandem seating, it was intended for flight training but became one of the most popular and best-known light aircraft of all time...
a few years later, while attending Georgia Tech
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
.
In 1958, at the age of 20, Hillard joined the US skydiving team, and became the first person in the US to pass a baton in freefall. The same year, he began flying aerobatics
Aerobatics
Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sport...
at airshows. In 1967, he won the National Aerobatic Championship, and in 1972, won the World Aerobatics Championship, the first American ever to do so.
Eagles Aerobatic Team
Hillard formed the Red Devils Aerobatic Team in 1971, with fellow pilots Gene Soucy and Tom Poberezny. The Red Devils flew the Pitts SpecialPitts 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...
aircraft, and were a popular draw at airshows around the country. In 1979, aircraft designer Frank Christensen invited the team to test fly a new aerobatic aircraft he had designed: the Christen Eagle. The Devils were so impressed that they switched their team aircraft to the Eagle, and renamed the Red Devils to the Eagles Aerobatic Team, with Charlie Hillard as the lead pilot. The Eagles Aerobatic Team would fly together for more than 25 years, and 1000 performances, setting a record for the longest-running aerobatic team with the same members.
During this time, Hillard also flew as a pilot for Hollywood, in the movies Aces: Iron Eagle III
Aces: Iron Eagle III
Aces: Iron Eagle III is a 1992 action film directed by John Glen and is the third installment of the Iron Eagle film series, with Louis Gossett, Jr. reprising his role as Col. Charles "Chappy" Sinclair. Also starring are Japanese actor Sonny Chiba and retired boxing champion Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini...
and Cloud Dancer
Cloud Dancer
Cloud Dancer is a 1980 adventure drama film directed by Barry Brown. It stars David Carradine, Jennifer O'Neill and Joseph Bottoms. The film follows a competition aerobatic pilot. It had its premiere in Milwaukee on 29 May, 1980.-Plot:...
, as well as the TV movie Skyward.
Later career and death
In 1995, the Eagles team disbanded. Hillard began to fly solo performances in a Hawker Sea FuryHawker Sea Fury
The Hawker Sea Fury was a British fighter aircraft developed for the Royal Navy by Hawker during the Second World War. The last propeller-driven fighter to serve with the Royal Navy, it was also one of the fastest production single piston-engined aircraft ever built.-Origins:The Hawker Fury was an...
. It was in this aircraft that he was killed on April 16, 1996, when the aircraft flipped over upon landing, following an aerobatic performance at the EAA
Experimental Aircraft Association
The Experimental Aircraft Association is an international organization of aviation enthusiasts based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Since its inception it has grown internationally with over 160,000 members and about 1,000 chapters worldwide....
Sun 'n Fun
Sun 'n Fun
Sun 'n Fun is a "Fly-in" and airshow held annually at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in Lakeland, Florida, usually during the second or third week of April....
fly-in in Lakeland Florida. He had over 15,000 hours of flight time at the time of his death.
Aviation achievements and awards
- National Aerobatic Champion, 1967
- First American to medal in a world aerobatics championship (Bronze, 1968)
- First American to win the World Aerobatic Championship (individual - 1972)
- Led the American aerobatics team to two world championships (1966, 1972)
- Author of the Federal Aviation RegulationsFederal Aviation RegulationsThe Federal Aviation Regulations, or FARs, are rules prescribed by the Federal Aviation Administration governing all aviation activities in the United States. The FARs are part of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations...
for aerobatic competency evaluations (ACE) - Founder of the Aerobatic Club of America
- Winner of the ICAS Wilkinson Sword of Excellence, 1983
- International Aerobatic Club Hall of Fame, 1990
- ICAS Foundation Air Show Hall of Fame, 1997
See also
- FAI World Aerobatic Championships
- Paul PobereznyPaul PobereznyPaul Howard Poberezny is a US aviator and aircraft designer famous for his work in establishing the Experimental Aircraft Association in 1953 and promoting homebuilt aircraft.-EAA:...
- List of airshow accidents