Inspirational Tuesday: Meet the world’s first armless pilot
Jessica Cox readies for take off. Butterflies buzz in her stomach as she gives the yoke a gentle nudge. With her eyes fixed on the runway, she thrusts into the air at 100 kilometers an hour.
This is no ordinary ascent though, Cox has just made history, she is the first armless pilot to fly.
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"I'm the first woman without arms to fly an airplane. knowing this world wasn’t built for me makes it an extra challenge,” she says. “But it also gives me more drive to make the world more accommodating and inclusive for people with disabilities
Despite being born with a rare birth defect, Cox was enrolled in a public school and quickly gained her independence. Cox went on to graduate from the University of Arizona with a degree in Psychology and Communication, and her accomplishments only skyrocketed from there.
While Cox surpassed expectations, there was one fear that she was determined to overcome: flying. After three years of training, she soared through the sky controlling the plane with just her feet. In 2008, Cox landed in the history books as the world’s first licenced armless pilot.
I fly planes to prove that anyone is capable of anything
Today, Cox travels the globe as a motivational speaker and has her own documentary, Right Footed She even made headlines again when she became the first armless black-belt in the American Taekwondo Association. Sharing her personal trials and triumphs, Cox is encouraging others to overcome their own obstacles. Guided by sheer determination and spirit, she proves that the sky is not the limit – it’s only the beginning.
We love a feel good inspirational story!
Thank you Beautiful News for this incredible story.
You can watch Jessica in action in the video below:
“Anyone is capable of anything.” Meet the world’s first armless pilot from Beautiful News on Vimeo.
About Beautiful News
Beautiful News is a vibrant, innovative, resourceful and warm-hearted people. A truth we often overlook. They celebrate the extraordinary fabric of human nature that binds our nation by releasing one positive story every day at 4:14pm – the moment in time Nelson Mandela walked out of prison. Beautiful News’ founder, photographer and filmmaker Adrian Steirn, previously created the 21 ICONS series, which profiled the iconic individuals who led the nation’s journey to democracy and helped to unite its communities. Beautiful News is made possible by Mercedes-Benz South Africa.
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