Ken Coleman

Ken Coleman’s legacy in skydiving is marked by excellence in competition, innovation in training, and passionate leadership. His journey in the sport began in 1969 with a club in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Fueled by natural talent and an insatiable drive to improve, Ken quickly became a prominent figure in the competitive formation skydiving scene.

In the early 1970s, Ken formed a 4-man formation skydiving team with three of his students. Known as The Rainbow Flyers, the team dominated the competitive circuit, securing major wins including the 1974 and 1976 U.S. National Championships and the 1975 World Championships of Relative Work. These achievements not only reflected Ken’s skill as a skydiver but also his effectiveness as a team leader and strategist.

As a means to support their training, Ken and his teammates opened a drop zone and student operation. His time in the parachute industry further deepened his understanding of gear and instruction, including his involvement with early tandem student systems. Recognizing a need for a better method of training novice skydivers, Ken developed what would become the Accelerated Freefall (AFF) Program—a seven-level, freefall-based progression system using two jumpmasters for early instruction.

Together with a pioneering group that included Gary Dupuis, Hoot Gibson, Rocky Evans, T.K. Donle, Charlie Kinlin, John Robbins, and Mike Johnston, Ken brought the AFF concept to life. His commitment to safety, structure, and effective teaching helped modernize the student experience. The AFF model eliminated outdated static-line requirements and aligned with the rapidly evolving techniques of relative work.

In 1981, the USPA formally approved the AFF program, a milestone that would forever change skydiving education. Ken was handpicked by the organization to lead nationwide instructor training and develop a certification system to ensure quality and consistency. He dedicated himself to traveling to drop zones across the country, sharing the AFF method and equipping new instructors with the tools to succeed.

Sadly, Ken’s life was cut short in a balloon accident in August 1981—just weeks before AFF was officially approved by the USPA Board. Though he never witnessed the widespread adoption of the system he created, Ken’s influence was already deeply embedded in the skydiving world. His charisma, dedication, and forward-thinking approach inspired a generation of instructors and laid the foundation for what is now considered the gold standard in skydiving training.

Ken Coleman’s visionary contributions continue to shape the sport, ensuring his place among skydiving’s most influential figures. His posthumous induction into the 2025 International Skydiving Hall of Fame, alongside AFF co-founder Gary Dupuis, honors a man whose innovations transformed how skydivers take their first steps into freefall.