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The Fear of Flight

The emotional challenge that comes with the fear of losing contact with the ground can be overwhelming.

The Impossible Airplane simulator fuselage, loaded up and ready to ride through the Tucson Rodeo Parade. [Credit: Jessica Barbary]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The author, a pilot without arms, emphasizes that the greatest hurdle to flying was overcoming a deep-seated fear of losing contact with the ground, rather than the physical challenge itself.
  • She highlights that taking action "despite the fear" is a powerful way to build confidence and achieve personal growth.
  • Her non-profit, Rightfooted Foundation International, uses aviation and empowering experiences to inspire children with disabilities to face their fears and cultivate hope and courage.
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As we celebrate Women’s History Month, I think about the women who made a dramatic impact on my aviation experiences. The first woman pilot to ever take me flying was one of my best friends, and there is nothing more encouraging than flying with a good friend. I knew that if she could do it, I could definitely do it. 

My friend was a captain for a small airline but also flew her stepdad’s Grumman Tiger. One Saturday morning, she offered to take me up. We flew over a golf course, and she wagged the wings as we flew directly over her boyfriend who was golfing. It felt both so casual and surreal; just another day out with my friend—but we happened to be up in the air. 

Jessica Cox

Born without arms, Jessica Cox is the first and only licensed armless pilot in aviation history. When she’s not flying a 1946 Ercoupe in Arizona, Jessica trains in Taekwondo, mentors children with limb differences, and travels the world as a keynote speaker.

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