Ken Armstrong - biography

Ken Armstrong is a 57-year-old, Canadian fixed- and rotary-wing test pilot, with more than 15,000 hours of flight time, almost all as pilot in command and none on automatic pilots. His aviation licenses include: Canada, U.S., Australia and New Zealand, with Canadian Airline Transport Rating showing endorsements for instructor and instruments, as well as single engine, multi-engine, fixed wing, rotary wing, land and sea.
Armstrong’s aviation experience includes military operations, flying instruction, fixed wing and rotary wing flying operations, aircraft sales, corporate aviation and positions as aviation sales manager, chief pilot and aviation manager with four companies. He is a qualified parachutist and ultralight instructor. He has flown more than 375 aircraft types, from the DHC-1 to CF-18 Hornet jet fighters in the military, and from Eipper ultralight to Piper Cheyennes in civilian flying.
Armstrong trained as an RCAF pilot to "wings standard" between 1965 and 1967 on Canadair Tutor jets and Beechcraft CT-45 Expeditors. He graduated from the School of Instructional Technique in 1967 and flew as a multi-engine instrument instructor for the Canadian Armed Forces from 1967 to1969.
He graduated from the basic helicopter course on the Hiller UH-12 Nomad and flew the Boeing Vertol 107 twin engine helicopter with the 450 Squadron, 1970-1972.
In 1972, Armstrong began his civilian career and has since flown with more than four dozen aviation operations on a consulting and/or contract basis. He has flown with more than 60 aviation operations worldwide as he teaches advanced flying techniques – such as fire suppression operations with helicopters – and aircraft handling techniques for fixed wing pilots.
To date, Armstrong’s writing has been published in more than five dozen aviation magazines in Canada, the United States and internationally. He has more than 1000 published works on flight safety, aircraft evaluation, regulations, aircraft systems and handling. He has won awards for his safety-related articles.
In 1989, Armstrong wrote the book, Choosing your Homebuilt. A second revised edition of this bible for aircraft builders was published in 1992 and a third edition in 1998. He has also co-authored the Sportplane Resource Guide (second edition).
He has been a director of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) of Canad and was appointed an Experimental Aircraft Association Flight Advisor.  Ken has been a director of the Recreational Aircraft Association from 1983 to present. He was one of the first Primary Regional Inspectors in the origninal delegated amateur built inspector (DABI) in 1990 and was appointed by the RAAC as Canadian Aviation Safety Board observer to investigate amateur-built aircraft accidents in the region.  This has led to considerable involvement in accident reconstruction and expert witness work for both fixed and rotary wing accidents.
Ken has been an owner of 16 aircraft since 1970 and was involved in air cadet flying operations for three years in the mid 90’s.
Armstrong has served in many positions with his local aviation groups and became a COPA director in 1994.  He frequently consults/communicates with organizations such as Transport Canada Aviation, Nav Canada and the Victoria Airport Authority Consultative Board on numerous issues relating to Canadian aviation for COPA and RAA Canada.
In addition to awards, such as the Transport Canada Aviation Safety Award (1996) for "exceptional contribution to the promotion of Canadian aviation safety," and the 1992 Kathryn Gamble Award for "outstanding achievement" in aviation, Armstrong has been recognized for his safety and proficiency with dozens of awards, metals and citations for operations in foreign countries.

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