Meet Mr. Johnson

Charlie Johnson started his Aviation career as a USAF fighter pilot and completed a one-year combat tour in Vietnam in the F-105G Wild Weasel.

After leaving the Air Force, he became Arnold Palmer’s chief pilot, flying a Learjet Model 24. In 1975 he joined Gates Learjet  as chief of production flight test.

In 1979, Johnson joined The Cessna Aircraft Corporation as Manager, Production Flight Test. He then held positions of increasing responsibility as Senior Vice President, Aircraft Completion and Product Support, Senior Vice President of Operations, including, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and engineering. In 1997, he was appointed  President and Chief Operating Officer.

After retiring from Cessna, Johnson joined ATG as President, developing a 2-seat jet trainer for the military and civil market. Subsequently, he served as President and test pilot of Beyond Aviation, converting a Cessna 172 to electric power. He is currently COO of XTI aircraft which is developing the revolutionary vertical take-off  hybrid Tri Fan 600.

 While his primary focus for over 35 years has been management, leadership and aircraft development, Johnson’s background also includes 15,000 pilot hours including 5,000 of flight testing, and he remains active as a pilot, instructor and test pilot. Between Learjet and Cessna, Johnson was involved with the design, development and certification of over 25 new models of aircraft, including the Lear 28, Citation Jet, and Citation X .

He holds Airline Transport and Instructor Pilot Certificates and is type rated in all Citation models, Falcon 50, most Learjets, L-39 and T-28.  He remains an active instructor and has soloed numerous young pilots on their 16th birthdays. He is active in his community and also sponsors US Air Force Academy cadets.

He is a laureate of the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame, a member of the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame and is one of the national Living Legends of Aviation. He is Chairman of The Wings over the Rockies Board of Directors, and serves on the Boards of XTI aircraft, and Shades of Blue.