Flying Over Adversity

Flying without arms has made getting a third-class medical uncharted territory.

The annual EAA air show is like a big family reunion—a place where people come to belong, including those with disabilities.

Members of an EAA chapter and a team of engineering students are custom modifying a Van’s RV-10 as a model for pilots with disabilities.

Just as a little girl would be inspired by seeing a female pilot, someone with a disability would be encouraged by seeing a pilot with limb differences in the cockpit.

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

As our float joins the parade, children with limb differences can see me, someone who looks like them, celebrating what makes her different.

Kaiya Armstrong flew a Cessna from Scottsdale, Arizona, to Washington, D.C. in October. She’s also legally blind.

When you don’t look like what the world thinks should be a “pilot.”

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: I was born without arms. I live my life by using my feet as my hands, and that’s precisely how I fly my Ercoupe. But I’m just one person with a disability who’s flown or aspired to be a pilot. Using my feet is natural to me. […]