Changing Lives Through The Challenge And Freedom Of Flight

By Maxine Scheer

Six new Able Flight pilots received their wings at a pinning ceremony Tuesday at Boeing Plaza at EAA AirVenture. The new pilots, who each received full-ride scholarships, include Scot Abrams of New York, Stephen Carrier of Louisiana, Randy Green of Idaho, Sgt. Adam Kisielewski of Maryland, John Robinson of North Carolina and Raymart Tinio of California.

From mid-May to early July, Abrams, Carrier, Robinson and Tinio learned to fly at Able Flight’s joint training program at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. In between flights, they attended classes and as a group accumulated 181 hours of flight instruction in two specially-adapted Sky Arrow 600 LSAs and an adapted Flight Design CTLS.

Green, who was born without hands or feet, received his second Able Flight scholarship and earned an ATP rating. He is working as a pilot in Idaho. Sgt. Kisielewski, a wounded veteran, earned his Private Pilot certificate at a different location earlier in the year.

Each of the six pilots were honored individually by scholarship sponsors that included Jet Aviation, AOPA, Bombardier, ForeFlight, Shell Aviation and Tempest. Special guests included Aviation Hall of Fame inductee Patty Wagstaff, Able Flight pilot Jessica Cox and AOPA President Mark Baker.

Now in its eighth year, Able Flight has 45 licensed pilots, including several who have earned multiple pilot certificates. In its sixth year of partnering with Purdue University’s Department of Aviation Technology, Able Flight has a 100% success rate. “The success rate needs to be highlighted,” said Sean O’Donnell, Able Flight pilot who owns one of the hand-adapted LSAs used in the training. “When you’re disabled, you don’t take things for granted. You get used to doing things beyond your capacity, so Able Flight students are more motivated to make the most of the training.”

Able Flight’s Executive Director Charles Stites announced that both Tempest and Zenith Aircraft are joining Able Flight as named sponsors, which provides a full ride scholarship for each of the next three years.  Stites also noted Zenith is working on a design to accommodate an Able Flight student to fly a Zenith LSA.

Able Flight sponsor Shell, in partnership with Lincoln Electric, commissioned artwork on a welding helmet by designer Aaron Hagar. AirVenture attendees can go to Lincoln Electric to check out the helmet, and with a $5.00 contribution to Able Flight will be entered into a raffle for the helmet and a ride with Aeroshell Flight Team for four individuals.

(Staff images)

FMI: www.ableflight.org