Tags: Filipinos Abroad, Inspirational Stories
By Edzelle Peña
ARIZONA, UNITED STATES — 26-year-old Filipino-American Jessica Cox is just like any other pilot — except she has no arms.
In 2008, the US Federal Aviation Administration granted Cox her sports pilot license making her the first pilot to ever fly a plane using only her feet. Cox flies a non-modified 1946 Ercoupe 415-C. This is a kind of plane that does not have rudder pedals and only requires two limbs to control unlike most planes which require four.
It took this courageous lady three years to complete her flight training, a course which other people would normally complete in six months. Nevertheless, all her sacrifices paid off when she was finally up in the air, flying the plane all by herself.
In a blog by Vincent, a Swiss private pilot, Cox shared how her interest in flying started.
“On the playground in elementary school, I remember being limited to the swings because other equipment like the monkey bars were impossible for me to play on. This frustrated me and I remember envisioning myself flying over the playground like Superwoman while everyone watched in disbelief.”
Cox never thought this daydream would come true years later.
The opportunity to learn how to fly commercial planes came to her in 2005 when she met fighter pilot Robin Stoddard. Stoddard offered her flight training but she initially dismissed the idea. However, after giving it a few tries, she said she was totally hooked.
Quoting the same blog, she said: “Seventy-four hours of flight training later, when I flew over the city of San Manuel for the first time solo (most of my flight training was over tailings ponds and Arizona desert), I fulfilled the childhood dream of being Superwoman!.”
In an article written by Anjo Perez posted on GoodNewsPilipinas.com, it was accounted that Cox’s childhood was no different from any other person without disabilities. She engaged in sports like swimming, gymnastics and tap dancing. In fact, she was even the first armless person to earn a black belt in the American Tae Kwon-Do Association. She drives her own car and has managed to do anything using her feet. The loving care and support of her family served as her strongest foundations for success. Cox traces her Pinay roots from her mother who is a native of Bobon, Samar.
Today, Cox shares her stories to inspire people around the world. As a motivational speaker, she teaches the values of persistence and determination in achieving dreams. In an autobiographical sketch posted on her website, she wrote: “I am convinced that how we react has a greater impact on our lives than our physical constraints.”
Cox has gotten worldwide exposure from international media organizations like CNN and Fox News. She has also appeared on “Inside Edition” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” Recently, her story was featured on “Ripley’s Believe It or Not.” YouTube has also become a medium for millions of people to know about this extraordinary individual. Videos showing her flying a plane, demonstrating martial arts stunts and even replays of her TV guestings are posted on the site mostly by Filipinos who are very proud of her.
In January this year, Cox came to the Philippines to visit her relatives as well as sponsor talks to inspire her kababayans.
Quoting again the article from GoodNewsPilipinas.com, she said: “I would like to inspire and encourage Filipinos to do more things. I want them to realize: ‘Hey, if she can do a lot of things without arms, then I can do so much more with my life.’”
Cox’s achievement is truly a wakeup call to many who are losing hope. She proved that nothing is really impossible if we work hard enough to accomplish it and that the only time our dreams become unattainable is when we give up on ourselves.
Photos courtesy of:
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/messina/Content?oid=1306035
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ERCO_Ercoupe
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