Posted on 02/15/2009 4:32:15 PM PST by IonImplantGuru
The first time she piloted a plane, Jessica Cox had a memory flash from first grade, when she couldn't swing on the monkey bars or climb the ladders to the tall slides on the playground.
She spent most of her time in the sandbox, imagining she was Superwoman flying over the schoolyard and taking her friends one at a time for a flight..
"It shows you the power of the imagination," she says. "The imagination with intention.".
Throughout her life, Cox has impressed people with her ability to negotiate without arms. But she has attracted some international fame with her latest achievement: earning a Federal Aviation Administration sport pilot's license. The 2005 University of Arizona graduate also has started her own company, and the product she sells is herself.
Standing on a bright-blue 1946 Ercoupe 415C airplane at Ray Blair Airport in San Manuel, northeast of Tucson, Cox uses her left foot to place a clipboard on the wing. Attached is a list of 30 things she must do before flying, including checking the oil, making sure there's no wing damage and checking the gas level. She ticks off each item with a pencil she holds with her right foot..
...
She already has spent about 25 hours doing solo flights without instructor Parrish Traweek. Her goal is to reach 150 hours and become a sport pilot instructor.
In the cockpit and ready to take off, Cox puts her left foot on the throttle and her right foot on the yoke, then checks her headphones and the radio. The propeller now makes a loud "thrum." She fixes her eyes forward, and the tiny plane motors up into the blue, cloud-dotted sky.
(Excerpt) Read more at azstarnet.com ...
Jessica Cox, who was born without arms, recently earned her sport pilot license at Ray Blair Airport in San Manuel. She flies this Ercoupe plane the way she does most other things in her life — with her feet. She also has started her own motivational-services company.
More photos available at the linked article.
Inspiring ... read her story before ....there’s a one-armed woman pilot I know of also ....
More power to her, but I’m inspired to ride in a different airplane.
No need for rudder control with an Ercoupe, the ailerons and rudders are slaved and act together with movement of the yoke. Its the perfect plane for an armless pilot.
Still, very inspiring, good job Jessica!
If she’s flying my plane, it better be on autopilot start to finish.
Kudos for an American Hero. She wins the motivated person award.
/johnny
Ercoupe!!? They made those in the 1940’s.
Anyway, congrats to Jessica a brave spirit.
No lie: I know a couple; the wife’s grandfather was a qualified pilot who is a deaf-mute!
The tower flashed him the red or green light, and I guess he remained in the local flying area while airborne.
Yes, very cool!
Biden: “give us a wave Jessica, let us see where you are in the crowd.” Well, you know he would ...
All fine and good so long as she isn’t my pilot or the pilot of anyone I know.
Wuss! I'm ok with flying with her ... but on the other hand, I have a private pilot's ticket, so in extremis I'd like to believe 4 limbs wins over 2.
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