Able Flight Scholarship Students Fly In Specially-Equipped
CTLS
Helping disabled pilots learn to fly has become a mission for
German LSA producer, Flight Design. In conjunction with Able Flight
and Purdue University's Department of Aviation Technology, Flight
Design and its Colorado dealer Peak Aviation supplied a CTLS with
an installed Flight Design hand control system to allow students to
earn their Sport Pilot certificate. Able Flight pays the cost of
aircraft for students.
Training of four students is nearing completion, consuming about
five weeks. Charles Stites, executive director of Able Flight
explained, "We had such success with our joint flight training
program at Purdue in 2010 that the university asked us to send more
students this year. That meant more airplanes and we were pleased
to add a Flight Design CT adding to the specially adapted Sky Arrow
600 that was used last year. So we have two students and two
instructors per plane."
Stites continued, "The Able Flight students at Purdue take part
in an intensive training experience that often means flying twice a
day, while spending the rest of their time studying. They also have
a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and support each other
as a team. It's really the best of all worlds. They live in a
university dorm, train with university instructors at Purdue's own
airport, and for five weeks they are immersed in aviation at a
school in the flying business for 100 years."
Hand controls in Peak Aviation's CTLS will allow two students
who do not use wheelchairs to train full time in the CTLS. Veteran
Jermaine Strachan is a a two-time recipient of the Purple Heart,
and Korel Cudmore is hearing impaired. Cudmore requires a
side-by-side training aircraft for communicating with her
instructor. Stites added, "We anticipate their sport pilot training
to be complete by the end of June, and their wings will be awarded
during AirVenture at Oshkosh."
Al Mathews of Peak Aviation Center said, "Frank Bormann of
Flight Design Technik provided excellent support throughout the
installation effort, regardless of the time in Germany." Peak
Aviation Center is a Flight Design Pilot Center located in Colorado
Springs, CO and their Pilot Center CTLS has been delivered to
Purdue University's Able Flight program to train disabled pilots.
"Our flight instructors found that the controls worked well and
especially appreciated the hand brake on the stick when taxiing on
a gusty day," added Mathews. The CTLS brake is normally positioned
in the center console where its operation requires the same hand as
used on the special rudder control. Peak Aviation's mechanic
installed the hand controls in the CTLS. The task involved
installing a hand-control rudder lever and a shortened throttle
lever as well as moving a new hand brake control to the
joystick.
When the CTLS returns to Peak Aviation, Stites elaborated, "Of
course, it is our hope that more intensive use of the hand
control-equipped CTLS will take place at Peak's Colorado Springs
facility, and Purdue's first experience in working with students
and the CTLS will allow us to evaluate that opportunity."
National Flight Design USA sales director, John Gilmore noted
"The hand control system - a set of parts and instruction for
retrofitting to an in-service aircraft - finished testing and
entered production earlier this year. The complete system retails
for approximately $4,000."
"We are impressed with Able Flight and director Charles Stites
and we want to support the organization's success at getting
disabled persons into Light-Sport Aircraft," stated Flight Design
CEO, Matthias Betsch. "We also know Purdue has a strong aviation
program in an environment of learning. In cooperation with hand
control developer Flight Design Technik we are pleased to help
provide training to Able Flight, Purdue, and to customers who need
such equipment."
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