Did you know that the world’s first licensed armless pilot has Filipino blood?
Jessica Cox is a Filipino-American motivational speaker and founder of the nonprofit Rightfooted Foundation, which helps people with disabilities. In addition, she holds the Guinness Book world record as the first person without arms certified in the world to fly an airplane.
To the New Day program, from CNN Philippinesthis Tuesday (8), Cox spoke about Project 2025, whose goal is to customize an RV-10 aircraft to be controlled with your feet, not only to meet your special needs, but also to spread the message to the world that “Disability does not mean incapacity”.
“It’s a pretty ambitious goal for anyone,” he revealed. “I have been flying for many years now, but the way I fly is very uncomfortable. I was inspired to build a plane that can be flown with just the feet, to get the message across that disability doesn’t mean disability.”
“This will be the first time in history,” she said. “It will be very unique and I will be able to take it and continue my mission and vision.”
According to Cox, Project 2025 involves about 2,000 hours of work as they customize and source materials from different countries.
“One of the assembly plants is in the Philippines,” revealed Cox, who was born without arms due to a rare disability. “Some of the critical parts, like the wings, will be produced in the Philippines.”
“Me and a team are going to put these parts of the plane together to finish the RV-10 and obviously the goal is to be able to fly to various places and inspire others,” he added.
Cox also said the aircraft they are building will have four seats and a speed of 320 kilometers per hour, much faster than their current plane, a 1946 ERCO Ercoupe 415-C, which can fly at 140 km/h.
“The speed will be better so we can do more of these trips, that’s what we hope to do, fly to more places, maybe fly to the Philippines!” shared Cox, who is 39, born in Arizona, and is also the first armless black belt in the American Taekwondo Association.
“That would be the dream, to eventually fly there and inspire people there so they can achieve their ‘own impossible,’” he said.
To donate or support Cox’s project, visit jessicacox.com/project2025/
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m James Harper, a highly experienced and accomplished news writer for World Stock Market. I have been writing in the Politics section of the website for over five years, providing readers with up-to-date and insightful information about current events in politics. My work is widely read and respected by many industry professionals as well as laymen.
