Randy Green, who was born without feet or hands, and U.S. Marines Sgt. Adam Kisielewski, who lost his left arm and a portion of his right leg while serving in Iraq, are two of six Able Flight pilots who received their wings during a pinning ceremony on July 21 at EAA AirVenture. The Able Flight class of 2015 also included Scot Abrams, who was partially paralyzed while on duty as a police officer; Raymart Tinio, who is deaf; and Stephen Carrier and John Robinson, both of whom were partially paralyzed in motor vehicle accidents.
Able Flight, now in its eighth year, provides flight training scholarships and mentoring for people with disabilities. The scholarships cover ground and flight training, along with other expenses such as books. Founded in 2006 by Charles Stites, the organization has helped 45 licensed pilots achieve their goals and in some cases multiple ratings. The organization has had a six-year partnership with Purdue University Department of Aviation Technology to facilitate training for a number of its pilots, and Stites noted that Able Flight has had a 100-percent success rate for its pilots who have trained through the university program.
Green had already achieved his commercial rating, but on July 21 earned his pin for his air transport pilot rating. Representatives from sponsor ForeFlight awarded the pin. Green later noted he trained on and flies aircraft without modified controls. Famed aerobatic pilot Patty Wagstaff awarded a pin to Abrams, who was among the four pilots who trained at Purdue. Other Purdue pilots included Carrier, who received a pin from Tempest representatives; Robinson, who received a pin from Shell Aviation representatives; and Tinio, who received a pin from Bombardier representatives. AOPA president Mark Baker, meanwhile, was on hand to award Kisielewski his pin. Kisielewski, who was injured by a door rigged with explosives, now works for a nonprofit organization that helps other wounded veterans.
Able Flight has continued to grow with a team of volunteers and new sponsors. Stites noted that it recently struck an agreement with Zenith Aircraft, which will soon sponsor a scholarship and work with organization to help design new adaptive controls on one of its aircraft to help with the organization’s flight training efforts.
