About
Statement from the Coffey School of Aeronautics Next
Student run aviation after school program dedicated to preserving African American aviation heritage and pursuing FAA pilot and mechanic certificates.
Our mission is to disrupt the traditional pathways to FAA Pilot and Mechanic certificates while making aviation equal regardless of
one's socio-economic condition. Mr Cornelius Coffey the namesake of the club was a pioneer in making aviation just, equal and without bias
to gender, race or class.
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Team
Umberto Ricco
Ceo & Founder
Taking the name, Coffey School of Aeronautics for our club might seem presumptuous. Knowing that the Coffey School of Aeronautics was one of the most significant in aviation history. We respectfully deliberated before adopting the name and adding the suffix NEXT. We knew that in order to use the name, it would require us to be leaders and pioneers. And though we realise we can never compare, we humbly strive to create new pathways to make aviation more inclusive no matter your socio-economic condition.
Zaire Horton
President
My desire is to be an inspiration to future young aviators like myself, by helping our club pioneer new pathways to pilot and mechanic licenses.
Samuel Obeng
Secretary
My goal is to become and help others become themselves in Aviation.
Anthony Rocquemore
Treasurer
The things I love about our Aviation program is the history and I love the different types of airplanes that we learn about.
Legacy
PART 1
Early years automotive, meeting John Robinson,building the Heath Parasol, working for Mr.Emil Mack. Living at Akers Airport, entering Curtiss Wright as students, becoming Instructors at Curtiss Wright.PART 2
Coffey and Robinson formed the Challenger Air Pilots Association with their students. Building the airport at Robbins Illinois,moved to Harlem Airport, flying to Tuskeegee to convince them to start an aviation program, rejected by Tuskeegee, Robinson goes to Ethiopia. Robinson returns from Ethiopia after Italian invasion, Coffey and Robinson barnstorm the south.PART 3
Herold Hurd and Coffey go over the early years, Coffey, Hurd speak about Millitary Order of Guard African American Army Air Corp. Willa helped form the National Airmen's Association of America, flying to Washington D.C, to convince the government to accept African American Pilots as part of the Civilian Pilot Training Program. Flying to H.B.C.U's to to convince them to participate. Willa and Coffey start the Coffey School of Aeronautics and integrate the program.PART 4
Post war training in the Chicago Public Schools, Dunbar Vocational message to the future from Mr.CoffeyVideos
P.B.S Jay Shefsky
Zaire's first solo flight.
Mobile Museum
Historic
Dr Earl W. Renfroe,pioneering orthodontist professor U.I.C in his Travel Air with the insignia of U.S Army Air Corp, Millitary Order of Guards. First African American millitary pilots sanction by the state of Illinois in 1934 predating the Tuskeegee Airmen.
Coffey School of Aeronautics integrated advance course aircraft familiarization for pilots and aircraft mechanics program in the basement of Wendell Phillips High School.
Between 1933 and 1946, Willa Brown graduated from Northwestern University with a master's degree in Business Administration,
became a commercial pilot, aircraft mechanic and co-founder of the Coffey School of Aeronautics an integrated civilian pilot training program/wartime training program.
In 1946, she ran for congress in the Republican Primary.
Mr. Coffey standing next to his Piper Tri-Pacer that we are restoring.
Mr.Coffey, passing his knowledge to a female student pilot during the war time training program.
Willa Brown and family at the Harlem Airport, Coffey School of Aeronautics civilian pilot training program.
The day before the attack on Pearl Harbor .
Willa worked with Mary McLeod Bethune and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to effect change in aviation.
Willa with her instructors and students, William Paris forward cockpit, chief instructor Coffey School of Aeronautics. Aircraft - Waco UPF7.
Mr.Coffey and Mr.Robinson fund raising with their Heath Parasol at the Dreamland Cafe 35th and State Street.
Current
Projects
Technical Projects
Projects of the Coffey School of Aeronautics Next
Electric Powered Sonex Xenos experimental kit project. Tail Section has been ordered and ariving in January. The kit completion is expected to be spring 2021. The Illinois Institute Of Technology Aviation Maintenance Club will assist the Coffey School Of Aeronautics Next in the construction of the kit. The electric powerplant used is from a Zero motorcycle. View the link to the Gabriel DeVault.
The construction of the Xenos, also exposes the students to unmanned aerial vehicles/drones like the NASC Teros .
Other engine choices for the Xenos may include UAV Turbines Monarch Hybrid to extend the range for touring motorglidering.
The Coffey School of Aeronautics Next, in collaboration with the IIT Aviation Maintenance Club will perform testing on improving glide performance of the Xenos as well as converting the Onex to a motor glider using wing grid technology.
Community Enrichment Projects
Return the Boeing P-12E to the community project, advocates for the return of the P-12E. The aircraft which was a critical part of the Coffey School of Aeronautics training program, has been under represented for nearly 50 years at its current location. We at the Coffey School of Aeronautics Next would like to see the aircraft return to the south side of Chicago. The board members of the Coffey School of Aeronautics Next realise that this Boeing was part of the most significant integrated training program of World War II, run by African Americans. We imagine a museum dedicated to the aviators from the south side of Chicago and their work in aviation. The Boeing P-12E will be a center piece of the museum. This Boeing is one of only two remaining P-12Es and the only known aircraft remaining, that was part of the Coffey School of Aeronautics. This aircraft would have not been saved if not for Mr.Coffey and his life long friend Marcellus Foose. The Boeing which is currently at the National Museum of the US Air Force would be an inspiration to future generations and most impactful in the neighbourhood where it helped change the course of history.
Contact
Contact Us
Our Address
3000 S King Dr, Chicago, IL 60616
Email Us
CoffeyNext@gmail.com
Call Us
312-479-1285