Two graduates of a program that helps disabled individuals earn sport pilot certificates are planning a multi-city tour to give back some of what flying has given them.
Sean O’Donnell and Heather Schultz will fly a specially adapted Sky Arrow light sport aircraft 1,000 miles beginning in January 2011. They will visit wounded veterans and others to demonstrate that “a disability need not be a barrier to realizing a dream,” according to the Able Flight website. O’Donnell, who was featured in the November 2007 AOPA Pilot , became a paraplegic following a motorcycle accident. Schultz suffered injuries in a diving accident that left her a quadriplegic. Both became pilots through Able Flight.
In conjunction with the flight, the two will raise money by seeking pledges per mile to enable Able Flight to fund flying scholarships for wounded veterans. Freedom Flight 2011 has raised $635 toward a goal of $15,000. If you would like to donate, see the Crowdrise website.