Kevin Coleman “Soars with Excitement” at the Florida International Air Show
Red Bull Pilot | November 7–8, 2026 | Punta Gorda Airport
Long before Kevin Coleman became a Red Bull pilot, he was a boy with his eyes on the sky. Growing up in Coushatta, Louisiana, he found inspiration close to home: his father loved flying and helped introduce him to the people who could turn that fascination into a future. On November 7–8, 2026, Coleman will bring the skill developed from those early experiences to the Florida International Air Show at Punta Gorda Airport.
At just 10 years old, Coleman began learning aerobatics from legendary aviator Marion Cole in his family’s Decathlon. These were lessons in a demanding kind of flying, where understanding the airplane matters as much as moving its controls. Coleman made his first solo flight on his 16th birthday, earned his pilot’s license at 17 and flew his first air show at 18. A childhood ambition was becoming a profession, one milestone at a time.
Along the way, Coleman learned from some of the most respected names in aerobatics, including Kirby Chambliss and Michael Goulian. The pilots he had admired as a youngster became mentors and, eventually, fellow performers. That connection between generations is part of what makes his story compelling: an experienced pilot shares what he knows, a young flyer puts in the work, and the tradition continues.
In 2016, Coleman entered the Red Bull Air Race Challenger Cup, becoming the first American to compete in that class. Air racing added another challenge to his career. Instead of shaping a performance for spectators, he had to find the fastest path through a course while meeting exacting flying requirements. Precision carried a different consequence there: a small change could affect the result. Today, Red Bull identifies Coleman as a member of its Air Force, bringing his aerobatic flying to audiences around the world.
Behind the spectacle is careful preparation. In an interview with Hartzell Propeller, Coleman described practicing repeatedly during the week and preparing for the way wind, weather and humidity influence an aircraft’s performance. He also discussed his interest in maneuvers involving negative G forces, a distinctive element of his flying that demands concentration and a different set of physical skills. Those details offer spectators a deeper appreciation of the work inside the cockpit.
For families attending the Florida International Air Show, Coleman’s appearance offers a chance to connect the excitement overhead with the journey that made it possible. Somewhere along the flightline, a young visitor may be watching with the same curiosity Coleman once had. His path shows where that curiosity can lead when it is supported by good teachers and years of practice.
When Coleman takes to the Punta Gorda skies, the audience will see more than an accomplished Red Bull pilot. They will see the continuing story of a boy who wanted to fly—and kept working until he could share that dream with a crowd.
Don’t miss Kevin Coleman at the Florida International Air Show, November 7–8, 2026 at Punta Gorda Airport.
Get your tickets now.
Sources: Red Bull athlete profile; Hartzell Propeller, Leading Edge 2021 interview; Florida International Air Show, September 25, 2026 lineup announcement.
