"Ability Barnstorming Tour" Begins July 21 From Atlanta
In 2007, Brad Jones and Sean O'Donnell became the first Able Flight Scholarship
winners to earn their Sport Pilot Certificates... and
beginning July 21 in Atlanta, GA, they'll barnstorm their way to an
opening day arrival ceremony in AeroShell Square at the world's
greatest aviation event, EAA AirVenture.
Both Brad and Sean use wheelchairs due to spinal cord injuries
suffered in vehicle accidents and they'll be flying a matched set
of specially-adapted Sky Arrow 600 LSAs, a unique aircraft that can
be flown with a second set of hand controls, and almost instantly
reconfigured for the use of its standard controls.
The two pilots plan to depart Cobb County Airport just north of
Atlanta on July 21 for their first stop in Knoxville, TN later that
morning. On the 22nd they'll stop in Dayton, the 23rd in
Indianapolis, the 24th in Champaign and the 25th in Waukesha, WI,
just west of Milwaukee.
Then, on the morning of July 28, Brad and Sean will fly the last
leg into Oshkosh for an arrival ceremony in AeroShell Square on
opening day of AirVenture.
In airport events at each location, both men will meet with
current and former patients of spinal rehabilitation hospitals, and
organizations that serve wounded and disabled veterans. Local pilot
groups and media are also being invited to meet these two young
men, see the adapted airplanes, and learn first hand what it takes
for a person with a disability to learn to fly.
"Our goal is to bring these special pilots and airplanes to as
many people as possible as they travel to Oshkosh," said Able
Flight's Charles Stites. "It is one thing to read about a person
with a disability becoming a pilot, and it's quite another to hear
from them in person how they have overcome traditional barriers and
successfully faced the challenges of learning to fly. Along with
every other scholarship winner, Brad and Sean have proven that with
hard work and dedication, nothing is insurmountable-not even
flight."
The tour is being funded in part through a lead grant provided
by the Wolf Aviation Fund, and the aircraft have been made
available by Hansen Air Group and Philly Sport Pilot, companies
that provide training for Able Flight Scholarship winners.
To help fund the tour and its general scholarship fund, Able
Flight is seeking pledges from individuals who can choose to pledge
their support in honor of either Brad or Sean. Based on Able
Flight's "Nickel A Nautical Mile " campaign, donors are encouraged
to make a $50 pledge for the 1000 mile trip.