Able Flight Pilots Get Their Wings
Able Flight, the nonprofit group that provides flight-training scholarships for people with physical disabilities, honored their three latest scholarship winners in a ceremony at Aeroshell Square at AirVenture Oshkosh on Tuesday morning. “These wings are symbolic of their dedication and will power,” said Able Flight executive director Charles Stites. The honorees, all of whom have earned their sport pilot certificate, were Jeremy Maddox, Mal Zackery, and Jessica Cox. Maddox, of Georgia, was paralyzed in a motocross accident, and soloed after only 11 hours. Zackery, also of Georgia, earned his certificate in early July. He was paralyzed less than two years ago when a robber shot him as he was making the night deposit for a store he managed. And Cox, of Arizona, who was born without arms, became the first person to earn a pilot certificate by flying an airplane entirely with her feet. Special guests who pinned on their wings were aerobatic pilots Mike Goulian and Patty Wagstaff, and aerospace reporter Miles O’Brien.
Able Flight, the nonprofit group that provides flight-training scholarships for people with physical disabilities, honored their three latest scholarship winners in a ceremony at Aeroshell Square at AirVenture Oshkosh on Tuesday morning. "These wings are symbolic of their dedication and will power," said Able Flight executive director Charles Stites. The honorees, all of whom have earned their sport pilot certificate, were Jeremy Maddox, Mal Zackery, and Jessica Cox. Maddox, of Georgia, was paralyzed in a motocross accident, and soloed after only 11 hours. Zackery, also of Georgia, earned his certificate in early July. He was paralyzed less than two years ago when a robber shot him as he was making the night deposit for a store he managed. And Cox, of Arizona, who was born without arms, became the first person to earn a pilot certificate by flying an airplane entirely with her feet. Special guests who pinned on their wings were aerobatic pilots Mike Goulian and Patty Wagstaff, and aerospace reporter Miles O'Brien.
Stites invited anyone in the aviation community who knows a disabled person who would benefit from flight training, to encourage them to apply. For more information, or to donate to the cause, go to AbleFlight.org.