WOMAN BORN WITHOUT ARMS BECOMES FIRST CERTIFIED ARMLESS PILOT FLYING WITH ONLY HER FEET!

Woman Born Without Arms Becomes the First Person to Earn her Pilot's License

Former Wright Flight volunteer, Jessica Cox, has made history by being the first armless person in the world to pilot an aircraft using only her feet while earning her pilot's license along the way.

Tucson, AZ ( PRWEB) October 24, 2008 -- Just three years ago, 25-year-old Jessica Cox had never been in a small airplane and certainly never imagined one day piloting one. That all changed on October 10th, 2008 when Jessica not only piloted the aircraft, she earned her Airman's Certificate in a 1945 Ercoupe 415C, an airplane designed to bring the postwar generation into the sky. The Tucson area resident and University of Arizona graduate has proven that anything is possible when inspired by an organization that truly believes in hard work and dedication.

This all started in August 2005 when Col. Robin Stoddard, the Executive Director and founder of Wright Flight Inc. a non-profit organization in Tucson, Arizona approached Jessica after her speaking engagement at a Tucson Rotary Club Luncheon. As she was leaving the facility, Robin asked her if she ever thought about flying an airplane. Jessica responded that one of her only fears was flying. Robin, himself a decorated Air Force Fighter pilot, told her about his Godfather, an Air Force fighter pilot who suffered a crash landing but still went on to fly his own aircraft even though he was confined to a wheelchair. Robin explained that he has taught people with all types of disabilities and if she could drive a car, (and from the photos she provided during the lecture it was obvious she could) then she could fly an airplane.

That upcoming Saturday Jessica attended one of the many Wright Flight 'fly days'. This was a time where kids who have successfully graduated from the Wright Flight program are allowed to pilot an aircraft for an hour with their designated pilot. From that day starting with Wright Flight's chief pilot Greg Rush, an airline pilot for UPS, and the guidance and encouragement of Robin Stoddard and the Wright Flight organization, Jessica Cox was guided through the 'ups and downs' of aviation.

Now, two years later, Jessica Cox like that of the Wright Brothers, has made history. 'Wright Flight Inc., is an organization that motivates and inspires today's youth through the Wright brothers' example of setting goals and achieving them through hard work and discipline.'

Media Contact:
Wright Flight
520-294-0404

Wright Flight Inspiration motivates Jessica Cox to earn her Sport pilot's license

No Arms, No Problem: Jessica Cox Earns Pilot’s License
, AZ		October 14 2008
Glen Davis photo
Three years ago, 25-year-old motivational speaker Jessica Cox hadn’t been in a small airplane. On October 10th, she earned her Airman’s Certificate in a 1945 Ercoupe 415C, an airplane designed to bring the postwar generation into the sky. Jessica, born without arms, enjoyed her first flight as a passenger, but she didn’t get the idea of flying, herself, until she read an article about Glen Davis, who had used the no-rudder-pedal Ercoupe to give flying lessons to a young man with spina bifida. “I thought,” she remembered, “that I could fly an Ercoupe!” Glen was her primary instructor, taking Jessica just up to where she was ready for first solo. She couldn’t solo that airplane, though, since the throttle was in a spot she couldn’t reach. Since Jessica holds an unrestricted driver’s license, she qualified medically under the Sport Pilot rules, which limit some operations and also require certain aircraft specifications, such as weight, speed, and carrying capacity. Not all Ercoupes qualify under the LSA (Sport Pilot) rules, and Jessica’s initial flight in a D model showed the throttle was in the right place, but that airplane was too heavy to qualify under the 1320-pound LSA limit. She found a perfect C model, though, just 45 minutes from home, owned by CFI Parrish Traweek, owner of PC Aircraft Maintenance at the airport in San Manuel, AZ. Tarrish took Jessica through her checkride. Jessica soloed on Mother’s Day (May 11, 2008), and took her successful checkride on October 10. She is the first person without arms to have been licensed to fly with only her feet – no prosthetics and no aircraft modifications, other than a seat cushion. Jessica is just 5’1” tall. Jessica’s other accomplishments are no less inspiring (appropriate for one in her profession). At age 14, she earned her first black belt in tae kwon-do; and more recently, she graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in psychology, and another black belt, the first person without arms to earn one from the American Tae Kwon-Do Association. Control Vision, makers of Anywhere Map®, heard from Jessica’s flight instructor and sent her their new ATC (Anywhere Travel Companion), high-functioning GPS nav-aid with a 4” touch-screen interface, introduced this year at Sun ’n Fun. Jay Humbard, President of Control Vision, said, “The ATC seemed perfect for her needs – touch screen, big buttons, easy to use, with shallow menus.” “It’s a lot easier to use than the sectional charts.” Jessica smiled, “Though of course I use it only as a backup navigation device,” in compliance with the FAA’s requirements. Read more about Jessica at www.rightfooted.com. This release is sponsored by Control Vision Corp (www.controlvision.com), makers of Anywhere Map and sponsors of www.100LL.com.
Tim Kern Publisher, Editor Anderson, IN Phone : 863-651-6095

Jessica Cox Born Without Arms Learns to Fly

Thanks to Wright Flight Inc., a non-profit organization in Tucson, Arizona, a woman overcomes great obstacles to become the first armless woman to pilot an aircraft and write a book about her experiences.

In August of 2005 a man by the name of Col. Robin Stoddard, the Executive Director and founder of Wright Flight Inc. (a non-profit organization in Tucson, Arizona) had attended an inspirational speaking engagement at a Tucson Rotary Club Luncheon. The speaker was a young woman by the name of Jessica Cox. Jessica, a local Tucson resident who graduated from the University of Arizona, was born without arms. Jessica had just shared stories of growing up without arms and the obstacles she has had to over come throughout her life. She included several pictures which showed her driving a car, using a computer and combing her hair. Robin realized that this girl had the potential to learn to fly and wondered if she had ever considered it.

As Jessica was leaving the facility, Robin stopped her and simply asked if she had ever thought about flying an airplane? Jessica responded that one of her only fears was flying. Robin, himself a decorated Air Force Fighter pilot, told her about his Godfather, an Air Force fighter pilot who suffered a crash landing but still went on to fly his own aircraft even though he was confined to a wheelchair. Robin went on to explain that he has taught people with all types of disabilities and if she could drive a car, (and from the photos she provided during the lecture it was obvious she could) then she could fly an airplane.

That upcoming Saturday Jessica attended one of the many Wright Flight "fly days". This was a time where kids who have successfully graduated from the Wright Flight program are allowed to pilot an aircraft for an hour with their designated pilot.

From that day starting with Wright Flight's chief pilot Greg Rush, an airline pilot for UPS, and the guidance and encouragement of Robin Stoddard and the Wright Flight organization, Jessica Cox was guided through the "ups and downs" of aviation.

Now, two years later, Jessica Cox like that of the Wright Brothers, has made history. She has successfully soloed in a specialized aircraft, written a book titled "Flying With My Own Two Feet" and has been requested to speak to audiences worldwide.

It's stories like this that truly allow us the opportunity to give thanks to organizations such as Wright Flight Inc. Everyday there are lives that are changed for the better because of one random act of kindness. One specific person or group of people who take a chance on someone because they see the potential that no one else can see at that time.

I truly hope that Col. Stoddard and the staff at Wright Flight continue to inspire people to reach for the stars.

http://www.wrightflight.org (520) 294-0404
http://www.rightfooted.com