The impossible airplane
“It’s only impossible until it’s done.”
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Jessica Cox Wants to build the first exclusively foot-controlled airplane in history
After a decade of flying, Jessica Cox is known worldwide as the first licensed armless pilot in history. Finding a video of her flying an Ercoupe is easy; millions of people have watched the various features or news stories. However, only a few people have seen her fly in person. The reason isn’t just logistics. Flying an Ercoupe with just your feet is hard. Really hard.
Jessica’s reputation as a pilot opens doors around the world. This year Jessica has the opportunity to dial down the difficulty of flying by building a custom-controlled airplane. An airplane like this has never been built before, which is poetically fitting for a pilot like her.
If successful, this custom airplane could serve as a model for other pilots with disabilities to explore or inspire new ideas. Jessica’s reach will expand from 50 miles around her home airport to virtually anywhere in North America. Most importantly, this pilot and airplane duo will be an undeniable reminder that “disability does not mean inability.”
The Build
Built from scratch, this RV-10 will be the first airplane built to be flown solely with feet.
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Knowledge Base
What has Jessica learned about becoming a pilot with a disability? She and her team share what they know.
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PilOts with disabilities and their Airplanes
There are many pilots with disabilities, each with a unique story.
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In the News
Collection of news stories covering the build.
About the Foundation
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