Good to hear. My ex-syndicate partner in the UK was a paraplegic, who after an evening out organised by some group, decided to learn. He designed and helped install hand controls to a blanic (I think), and having gone solo bought into an open cirrus and modified that, finishing up with the standard cirrus I now have, which has a very simple hand control for the rudder that is removed when he is not flying. The airbrakes are notched so they can be set in about 4 positions and left to assist when landing.
The only issue was when he out landed, which didn't put him off at all, and he did regularly. Flying was one of the few places his disability ceased to exist. Hope you see them again. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of J Hudson Sent: Thursday, 3 November 2005 21:33 To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] A boring day - a good story. I agree with Brett, A great news story - there should be more of it. John Hudson ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brett Kettle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.'" <aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net> Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 5:42 PM Subject: RE: [Aus-soaring] A boring day - a good story. > Now *that* made the reading of the last 100 or so posts to this site all > worthwhile!!! > > Thanks, Allan. > > Brett Kettle > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Allan > Armistead > Sent: Thursday, 3 November 2005 5:01 PM > To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. > Subject: [Aus-soaring] A boring day - a good story. > > Last Saturday was a pretty normal operation at Bunyan (Canberra), though > the > flying was a bit "boring". But that changed when the couple of passengers > we > were expecting turned up early in the afternoon. They were part of a small > family group, obviously some sort of celebration as they had brought > pizzas > and what appeared to be a birthday cake. (Being in the tug for the day I > didn't have much chance to talk to them.) > > The thing that was immediately different was the young guy in the group > (early-mid twenties I'd say) who was in a wheelchair and had lost both > legs, > above the knees it seemed. Well that wasn't going to hold him back, he was > up for a pax flight. I got the full story later from Col, one of our > senior > instructors, who took him up. > > Seems he lost his legs some years ago as a result of a car accident. Well > the first challenge this presented to Col was making sure he was properly > secured in the glider (fortunately the Puchacz has a crotch strap), the > second consideration was the weight and balance. Although he weighed some > 60kg, with no legs sticking out in front the weight was a little further > back than normal - so Col elected to put a couple of ballast weights in. > > The flight went well, and our friend was offered a go at the controls. He > was also a bit light on for arm and upper body strength, so Col suggested > he > use both hands on the stick, Col would do the rudder. This worked out OK, > and a good time was had by all. > > Towards the end of the flight, our pax said to Col that it was the best > fun > thing he'd done since he'd lost his legs! Nearly cracked Col up when he > heard that. And it left the rest of us feeling pretty good about the day, > too. > > The family hung around for quite a while, two others also had pax flights, > and there is a sneaking suspicion we just might see them again. > > It was a reality check for all of us on the field that day. So many things > in life we take for granted, when you see the buzz that "another boring > day" > can give to someone who's had a rough trot in life, it does make you stop > and think a little. And make you feel good that you have brought a bit of > real joy to someone else. > > > > Allan Armistead > ph (02) 6249 6470, fax (02) 6249 6555, mobile 0413 013 911 > PO Box 908, Dickson ACT 2602, Australia > > "When once you have tasted flight, you will always walk with your eyes > turned skyward, for there you have been and there you always will be." > Leonardo da Vinci, 1452-1519 > > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
