Still Time to Make a Difference for "Right Footed"

HELP US SHARE JESSICA'S MESSAGE WITH THE WORLD After three years of work we've just put the finishing touches on the film festival version of "Right Footed".  In 2015, we'll be showing the film at festivals around the USA and the world -- but in order to pay for our score, sound mix and "on-line" we need your help! Visit www.RightFootedmovie.com to make your tax-deductible donation, get a poster signed by Jessica and other swag, and check out exciting new videos from the film -- and the cutting room floor!

Nick Spark | nicktspark@gmail.com | Nick Spark Productions LLC | 8911 Gibson Street | Los Angeles, CA 90034

Indy Transponder 30-NOV-2013 0615z

Al Ain Aerobatic Show takes to the skies [Friday] - Khaleej Times | It’s time to look up at the skies. Two solo fighter-jet displays, a jet school bus and the famous indigenous Fazza skydiving team are to be seen at the 10th Al Ain Aerobatic Show that takes off today...

The Ultimate Classic Weekend · Warbirds News | PRESS RELEASE-One of New Zealand’s longest running, iconic events is teaming up with a brand new event to offer what’s believed to be a world first.Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow and the nearby Highlands Motorsport Park have announced they’re working on a joint ticket for their events next Easter.The new combo ticket will allow people to have one day at Warbirds Over Wanaka and one day at the ‘Highlands Revival’ Easter motor racing festival. Ticket buyers will be able to choose which day they go to which event...

Video: Santa Claus fly-in, Portage Airport - wiscnews.com | Santa Claus comes to the Portage Airport in Portage, Wis., on Nov. 29, 2013. More than 100 people greeted him at the annual event.

Lauderdale Air Show canceled for 2014 - Sun-Sentinel | Next year's Lauderdale Air Show has been canceled because Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport would have to shut down all its flights during the performances to accommodate it...

EAA AirVenture 2013 – More Air Show - Other People's Airplanes | In this episode of Other People's Airplanes, we talk about exactly nothing. Please enjoy this special feature containing airplanes doing what they do best.

WWII fighter ace had keen sense of humor - San Antonio Express | James W. Empey, who fought in two wars and earned the title of fighter ace, died at home Nov. 21. He was 89. His 30-year military career started in 1942 as an 18-year-old aviation cadet in the Army Air Forces. Empey was assigned to the 59th Fighter Group for training as a P-39 pilot and was then assigned to North Africa in 1943...

CoolPix: The Amazing Days Of The X-15 (Post Flight B-52 Fly-Over) - AirPigz | I've been feeding a revived X-15 addiction here the last week or so, and this image from the early days of the program sure drips with 1960's aerospace awesomeness. I've even got a sideline project in the works that includes North American's rocket-powered speedster... the one that spent quite a bit of time at the edge of space while we marched our way toward the Apollo program...

Forgotten aircraft reborn at Sonoma County airport - The Press Democrat | This may be closest that the Sonoma County aviation buffs come to unearthing buried treasure. A letter from out of the blue advised Christina Olds of the Pacific Coast Air Museum that a woman in Marin County wished to donate her airplane...

Armless Fil-Am pilot to help disabled typhoon victims - ABS CBN | MESA, Arizona – Armless Filipino-American pilot and motivational speaker Jessica Cox's family in the Philippines was not spared from super typhoon Yolanda’s (International name: Haiyan) fury. Cox’s great-aunt was among the thousands who lost their lives...

Corsica: the Canadian CF-18s conduct live fire and drop bombs (PHOTOS) - Translated | Exercise SERPENTEX, which runs from November 26 to December 6, 2013, is an annual multinational training exercise and close air support organized by the French Air Force, Corsica (France)...

Indy Transponder 22-SEP-2013 0300z

Competing for a Cause- Race 99 “Margaret June” - Alabama Aviator - Aviation News | RENO NV- Kent Cassels of Kissimmee, FL flew his aircraft, Margaret June -Race 99- in the 2013 National Championship Air Races in Reno, in support of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, SOWF...

Celebration in the Pits for T-6 Racers - Alabama Aviator - Aviation News | RENO NV- During the 50th Reno Air Race, one big change in leaders came Thursday in the T-6 Gold Heat. Leader Nick Macy was piloting "Six-Cat," and right after the start of the race on the first turn, had a mayday. His engine had seized but with some great flying skill, he pulled up and then came in deadstick for a perfect landing. Unfortunately though, he is out of the race putting Dennis Buehn in #43 in the number one spot...

Photos from Early in race week at Reno

Famed Lockheed Electra Destined for Key Piece of Earhart Exhibit - Alabama Aviator - Aviation News | The Museum of Flight's Lockheed Model 10-E Electra on exhibit at the 2013 Reno National Championship Air Races heads to final destination. After 78 years in service, this will be the plane's final flight. The rare airliner is the same type as Amelia Earhart's famous plane, and it will be the centerpiece of a permanent Earhart exhibit opening in October...

Body of US stunt pilot recovered in China - www.bbc.co.uk | The body of an American stunt pilot whose aircraft crashed into a lake in China is found after a three-day search, Chinese state media report.

The Long Sad, Tragic Story Is Over: David Riggs' Remains ID'ed - Aero-News Network | Wayward Pilot, With Multiple Convictions, Confirmed As Dead | Opinion, Analysis and Observation by ANN CEO/Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell | After years of holding our breath and dreading the beating the aviation world was taking over the crimes and mis-deeds of one of the most dreadful aviators in the world, we can sadly confirm that the potential for future damage and death is finally over...

National Naval Aviation Museum 50th Anniversary Celebration - Alabama Aviator - Aviation News | 50th Anniversary Celebration of the National Naval Aviation Museum The Naval Aviation Museum Foundation invites the public to visit the Naval Aviation Museum in celebration of its 50th anniversary...

Flying in the "Tin Goose" - Toriaflies | I've loved the Ford Trimotor since I first saw one displayed at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI. That Trimotor was the first plane to fly over the South Pole and I loved how it shined and how its three radial motors stood out making themselves known. Built not far from where I grew up, 199 Ford Trimotors were manufactured there between 1925 and 1933 and immediately became a popular purchase for airlines flying from coast to coast...

P-61 Black Widow Footage…In Color! - The Lexicans | From the video description over at Liveleak.com: For aviation history fans. Very rare color P-61 night fighter footage shot at the end of World War II. From the 422nd NFS operating out of Florennes, Belgium, an up close look at...

In 1961 a B-52 Bomber Broke Up In Mid-Air Almost Causing a Nuclear Holocaust In The US By Warbirds News | As reported on the online version of the British newspaper, The Guardian ,in 1961 the U.S. came close to a nuclear holocaust in North Carolina. Only a low voltage switch prevented a nuclear device, the hydrogen Mark 39 dropped by mistake,to  exploded near Goldsboro, NC. Details were reveled by document obtained by investigative journalist Eric Schlosser on the basis of the Freedom of Information Act is published yesterday in The Guardian. The bomb would have been 260 times more powerful than the one that destroyed Hiroshima at the end of World War II...

History of B-17E and XC-108A Desert Rat - Aero Vintage | B-17E s/n 41-2595 was the 203rd B-17E built by Boeing at Seattle, and was delivered to the AAF on April 14, 1942. It was immediately placed into the training role, being first assigned to the 97th Bomb Group at MacDill Field, near Tampa, Florida. The 97th BG had been...

Amicale du Super Constellation - Open Days - 28 & 29 September 2013 · Xavier Cotton, Passion for Aviation  (translated) | The Amicale du Super Constellation holds Open Days on 28 and 29 September 2013. | This is an opportunity for the public to (re) discover the Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation C, the most beautiful airliner piston engine ever built. Plants out of Burbank, CA in November 1953, the F-BGNJ is still last copy in "good condition" existing in France...

Will it Fly? Home - A documentary about the reproduction of New Zealand's first aeroplane built... www.willitflymovie.com | New Zealand, first flight, aeroplane, documentary, film, television production, Ivan Mudrovcich, engineering. Visit willitflymovie.com

Sad news here in Long Beach as Boeing announces closure of C-17A production in 2015 - Aero Pacific Flightlines | The C-17 Globemaster III plant, California’s last remaining aircraft manufacturing facility, will shutter in two years, affecting 2,200 Boeing Co. employees based in Long Beach and Huntington Beach and thousands of workers and suppliers nationwide, company officials announced Wednesday...

HOW ONE GOOD DEED LED TO ANOTHER Yesterday I was up in San Francisco interviewing an extraordinary guy named Glen Davis. Glen, who is a photographer by trade, learned to pilot an airplane when he was 18. In 2006, he literally took Jessica under his wing and began teaching her to fly. It was an act of faith, and a lot of people who knew Glen thought he was being foolhardy to take on a student who — well, you know the story, she had no arms! Even Glen's insurance company balked when they heard he was working with Jessica, insisting that they'd only insure his plane for half its value if there was an accident. But Glen didn't mind about his insurance company, or about the comments from anyone else. I couldn't for the life of me picture what would have given him so much faith in Jessica, and it turns out there's a story there...

Flying high! Ayesha Aziz set to become first Kashmiri woman pilot - You Fly, Girl | From India Today: A 17-year-old Kashmiri girl studying in a Mumbai school is all set to become a commercial pilot. She alward has a student pilot licence by Bombay Flying Club. Ayesha Aziz, whose parents are from Khawaja Bagh in Baramulla, said she always dreamt of flying an airplane...

The final essay of a 2013 Spring Scholarship Program: Najla Dorsey! - Life on the Road as a Pilot | In our better-late-than-never and don't-ever-give-up category, we present the final essay of a 2013 Spring Scholarship Program: Najla Dorsey! Due to some family and personal issues she's had to take  a bit of a break from flying but we hope to see her up in the air again soon...

Commercial Cygnus set to dock with ISS - Spaceports | After a flawless launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on the Eastern Shore of Virginia mid-day Wednesday Sept. 18, 2013, the spacecraft Cygnus has continued to close in on the International Space Station (ISS), performing the final  maneuvers on Sunday before being berthed at the station.

Able Flight: We're Making New Pilots Right Now!

Dear Reader, Your gift will enable someone with a disability to become a pilot or to have a career in aviation. A minute now can change a life forever. Thanks to Embraer for their support of our scholarship fund. What do half of our pilots who trained at Purdue University in 2012 have in common? They are now enrolled in aviation career training programs. Congratulations to Tyrell Rhodes, Devon Radloff and Wesley Major.   Our thanks to    Perrone Aerospace for being a founding sponsor of Able Flight in 2006. Every Able Flight pilot studies for their knowledge test with an online course generously donated by our friends at King Schools. (L-R) Young Choi with instructor Tim Gleeson TRAINING IS NOW UNDERWAY AT PURDUE This year's Able Flight student pilots are completing their second week of training and are quickly building hours towards their pilot certificates. By the end of the first week the group of five had totaled over 50 hours of flight instruction and more than 40 hours of ground instruction. Even with less than ideal weather conditions, Dennis Akins, Young Choi, Warren Cleary, Deirdre Dacy and Andrew Kinard have been maintaining a full schedule;  providing a real test of the adapted Sky Arrows used for training. Our thanks to flight instructors Tim Gleeson, Jared Kuhn, Nick Losande, Abe McCollough and Matt Paczolt, professor Bernie Wulle and volunteer program coordinator Wesley Major for helping our scholarship recipients live their dream. . 2013 WINGS CEREMONY SET FOR JULY 30TH AT AIRVENTURE Celebrate with our new pilots as they receive their Able Flight Wings  on Tuesday July 30th at EAA AirVenture.   2012 Wings Ceremony    2013 Ceremony 11AM  July 30th Phillips Plaza  Jessica Cox with Patty Wagstaff If only 150 people donate just $5 a month, we can provide a full scholarship each year to someone like Able Flight pilot Jessica Cox. WE ARE LOOKING FOR 150 GOOD PEOPLE! It's easy to set up your $5 recurring donation here. Just enter $5 as your amount and click on the box below to make it a monthly donation! 91 Oak Leaf Lane | Chapel Hill, NC 27516 US

Indy Transponder 12-MAR-2013 2100z

50 years of Air Fiesta remembered - Valley morning Star | Patti Sandusky is a member of the Minnesota Chapter 99s, an international group of women pilots with more than 5,000 members in 35 countries. She has flown in a trans-continental air race. The group was founded in 1929 by the legendary Amelia Earhart, ...

2013 National Hall of Fame Inductees Announced from Airplanes Channel: Aircraft, Pilots, Heritage, Photos, Video, Events, News by Editor | Home of the legendary Wright Brothers, and widely considered to be the “birthplace of aviation”, Dayton is the perfect location for the National Aviation Hall of Fame – a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the pioneering and innovative people who have been behind the development of aviation in America. Situated at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the National Aviation Hall of Fame recently announced the names of the four individuals who will be joining the ranks of other inductees at the prestigious annual ceremony taking place in October 2013. They are Major General Patrick H. Brady, Captain Robert L. Gibson, the late Charles Alfred Anderson and the late Dwane L. Wallace....

Buff Alpha Jet takes you to the military base of Dijon - Le Parisien | A unique opportunity to get close to the Alpha Jet, and even take pictures ... Not to miss such an opportunity, please contact Joseph quickly Torossian, a passion for aviation. Known throughout the county for his love of airplanes, it has long chartered Concorde flights...

AIRSHOW NEWS: RAF Typhoon Display Dates 2013 from Flightline UK - UK Airshow News | The RAF Typhoon Display Team have released their 2013 Display Calendar.

World's Oldest Balloon Race To See 10 Nations Competing from Aero-News Network | A Field of 20 Balloons Is Set for the 57th Coupe Aeronautique Gordon Bennett The launch of the 57th edition of the world's most prestigious balloon race is scheduled for August 24, 2013 and with the close of registration on February 15th, the field of competitive teams is now set. Twenty balloon teams from ten nations will launch from Nancy, France. Several of the countries will be represented by multiple teams. Each balloon team is comprised of two pilots....

BAFB Air Show - KTBS | National news sources are reporting that the Navy's Blue Angels have canceled several air shows due to the mandatory cuts by the sequester with a chance of dozens more getting cut, including Barksdale Defenders of Liberty air Show. Military Affairs ...

Redding Air Show flying high with Snowbirds - Record-Searchlight | The Redding Exchange Club, the air show's organizers, announced late last month that the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, which have not appeared in Redding since 2006, will headline the Sept. 27-28, 2014, air show at the Redding Municipal Airport.

"Look Mom... No Hands" from Flight To Success by Karlene Petitt | I spent last weekend at Seattle's Museum of Flight as we took women on Free Flights. Tomorrow we'll have the exact number and photos galore. But today, meet an amazing pilot who will show you that there is nothing you can't do, despite the obstacles you think may be standing in your way. Please meet Jessica Cox, and see what she is doing to save the children of the world....

Aircraft Mechanic. Me? Really? from WAI Connect Blog by Amy Laboda | Outside of the United States, the question above is fairly common, I’m told. Many female mechanics and aircraft maintenance engineers have heard it, followed by “That’s amazing! How did you ever get involved in that?”...

Astronaut encourages Frederick County girls to fly high from Toriaflies  | Astronaut encourages Frederick County girls to fly high ...

Girls take flight in free Women in Aviation Week program - Inside Bay Area | Pilot Carol Andrews, right of Grass Valley, and Michaela Price, 13 of Brentwood, get set to take a demonstration flight in a Grumman Tiger at Byron Airport on Sunday, March 10, 2013, in Byron, Calif. Jacquie Warda of the Patriots Jet Team Foundation ...

Two AF nurses heroes of 'Operation Babylift' from Air Force Link Top Stories | No matter how far women were kept away from combat roles, they were never far from harm and the opportunity to rise above and beyond the call of duty.  An explosion blew out a pressure door of a C-5A Galaxy as it took off from Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam, April 4, 1975, forcing it to make an emergency landing with 313 passengers and crew, including 250 orphans.

MC-12 Project Liberty Team competes for aviation's 'Greatest Achievement' from Air Combat Command - ACC Headlines | Baseball has the World Series, Hollywood has the Oscars, the aviation and aerospace industry has the Collier Trophy.  The Air Force's MC-12 Project Liberty has earned a nomination for aviation's most prestigious award. The Robert J. Collier Trophy is...

Open Cockpit Day at Oakland Aviation Museum from General Aviation News | Oakland Aviation Museum will hold its first Open Cockpit Day of the 2013 season March 24, with the planes open for inspection from noon to 4.m.  Imagine sitting in a Korean War MiG-15 and feeling what it would have been like to fly for the “other side” in America’s first war of the Jet Age. Relive “Top Gun” by channeling your best Tom Cruise as “Maverick” sitting in an F-14 Tomcat waiting to be launched off the carrier deck....

Museum of Flight acquires Electra 10-E from General Aviation News | SEATTLE — The Museum of Flight will add a restored, antique Lockheed Model 10-E aircraft to its collection. This is the same type of plane Amelia Earhart was flying on her ill-fated attempt to fly around the world in 1937.  The aircraft will be flown to the museum in September 2013 and become the centerpiece of a new permanent exhibit honoring Earhart. The museum already owns the only known piece of Earhart’s Electra, officials note. This artifact and the airplane will help tell the story of the world’s most famous women aviator in ways that cannot be found in any other museum....

Historic flyover to mark historic walk - Australian Aviation | Former RAAF Wing Commander Matt Hall, Australia's leading aerobatic display pilot, is co-ordinating the event on behalf of Businesses Supporting the Bicentenary (BSB) and Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism. Hall, who served time in combat over ...

Mercy: West Virginian's tale - Charleston Gazette | West Virginia farm boy Charles Brown, age 21, was making his first raid over Germany as pilot of a B-17 bomber, five days before Christmas 1943. The four-propellor craft was shot almost to pieces by Nazi fighters. Most crewmen were wounded and the ...

Grissom Air Museum striving to maintain state's aviation history - Times-Mail | BUNKER HILL — Grissom Air Museum is working to preserve aviation history and honor those who have sacrificed to protect the United States. The museum, which officially opens on April 1 for the 2013 season, has cut the number of months it will stay ...

Indianapolis Aero Club - WISH | John Brill, President Indianapolis Aero Club talks about the long history enjoyed by the Indianapolis Aero Club plus we learn about the many high ranking military officials who speak to the club annually. The Indianapolis AERO Club will be awarding two...

Human-Powered Helo - Mission Possible? - Aviation Week | The two leading teams competing for the $250,000 AHS Sikorsky Prize for human-powered helicopter flight are regrouping after back-to-back unsuccessful assaults on the challenge, which remains unclaimed after three decades. ... "Sadly, even with the ...

The Space Shuttle Era: Stories from 30 Years of Exploration - Air & Space | Air & Space magazine presents a celebration of the 30-year history of the U.S. Space Shuttle, which launched more people into space than any other spacecraft. Based on the popular print Collector’s Edition Space Shuttle 1981-2011, this digital version includes bonus interactive features, extra photographs, and multiple videos....

Indy Transponder 15-FEB-2013 0145z

IMPACT OF SEQUESTRATION ON AIR SHOW COMMUNITY via Kyle Franklin | As reported in the last issue of Fast Facts, contingency planning by the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army and Marine Corps calls for a complete end to all non-essential flying – including air show performances – if sequestration cuts are implemented. ICAS has learned that, if the March 1 deadline is not averted, the Blue Angels, Thunderbirds and single-ship tactical demonstration teams will continue to prepare for the 2013 air show season through March 31. If the situation has not been corrected by then, all preparation will cease and the teams will stop flying on April 1. In addition to an abrupt end to air show performances, the military will also stop supporting air shows with static display aircraft. Although specific details about air shows and open houses held on military bases have not been shared, it is likely that these events will also be cancelled. Enite article on Franklin's Flying Circus's Facebook Wall > Thanks!

Trade group advises air shows against counting out Blue Angels - Pensacola News Journal | John Cudahy, president of the trade group, based in Leesburg, Va., said he has told some air show officials via “internal correspondence” to wait as long as possible see whether alternatives arise to the across-the-board military spending reductions ...

APPROACHING THUNDER: Kentucky Derby Festival announces theme of this ... - Newsandtribune | Organizers unveiled the theme to the 24th Thunder Over Louisville event, the traditional kick-off to the Kentucky Derby Festival, at a press conference Monday morning. The theme for Thunder Over Louisville, to be held April 20, is “Thunder Vision,” and ...

International Aerobatic Club Offers Variety of Member Benefits from EAA - The Experimental Aircraft Association | Whether you are interested in flight competitions or just learning more about the exciting field of aerobatic flight, the International Aerobatic Club (IAC) offers a wide variety of exclusive benefits for its members.

Human Fly - Mohave 1975 on a Douglas DC-8 from TAKEOFF TUBE
DH Mosquito KA114 and GoPro from TAKEOFF TUBE

Art exhibit pays tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen - Mukilteo Beacon | They had also trained to fly the B-25 bomber, but the war ended before these were deployed. “They fought a war on two fronts: one against the forces in WWII that were bent on destroying the [American] way of life, and the second battlefront was at home ...

Tuskegee Airman, Allen U. Graduate Dies - WLTX.com | He graduated from a Methuen high school in 1939 and attended Allen University in Columbia, S.C., before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1943. He was a 2nd lieutenant with the black 477th B-25 Bomber Group and was honorably discharged in 1947.

Former Flying Tiger George Mazock got his wish in World War II - The Northwest Florida Daily News | Mazock became one of the Flying Tigers, who flew only at night and under poor weather conditions with little to no equipment to guide them. “A lot of people didn't realize what was happening in China, but while we were there we held off 1.5 million ...

Armless Pilot to Inspire Ethiopian Children - Flying Magazine | Jessica Cox, the first person without arms to earn a pilot's certificate, is joining Handicap International on a journey to Ethiopia to inspire children with disabilities to reach beyond their dreams despite their physical challenges. Handicap International targeted Ethiopia because low-income countries in particular tend to deny handicapped people opportunities offered to the general public...

Playing catch up! from The EAA Zenith Project by ChadJensen | ...The team has been working on getting the right wing caught up to the left wing, which happened a couple of weeks ago, and the flaperons are the new focus on the work benches now...

EXERCISE IRON FIST 2013 – Camp Pendleton from photorecon.net | 70 years ago, two military forces were facing each other during the Guadalcanal Campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and code named Operation Watchtower by Allied forces. On one side was the United States Marines and the other, the Imperial Japanese Army. It was a bloody and bitter military campaign fought between August 7, 1942 and February 9,...

How a group of photographers was blown and burnt by B-1B Lancer’s afterburner at airshow
from David Cenciotti's weblog | The incident happened on arrival day at RIAT Cottesmore in 2001. Some photographers and aircraft spotters were next to the perimeter fence on the northeastern side of the airport next to the runway 23 threshold. This spot provided a unique point-of-view as arriving and departing aircraft were pretty close...

Nellis prepares for F-35 arrival  from Air Combat Command - Top ACC Stories | The 57th Wing is preparing for the arrival of four F-35 Lighting IIs Feb. 28.  Arrival of the F-35s to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., will mark the first time in the aircraft's history operational tests will be performed on the aircraft.

Pentagon: AF Wrongly Blamed Pilot for F-22 Crash - Military.com | An Air Force report that cites pilot error in a fatal F-22 crash "was not supported by the facts," the Pentagon Inspector General's Office announced Monday. The crash in Alaska claimed the life of pilot Jeff Haney. It also sparked a lawsuit against the ...

RAF Air Cadets to attend RAF Fairford camp - This is South Wales | Held annually each July at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, the Royal International Air Tattoo, the world's largest military airshow, has gained the well-earned reputation as one of the UK's top outdoor family events. The camp is scheduled to take place ...

5K fun run to take place during Space Fest at museum from National Museum of the USAF Top Stories | Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to run in outer space? After a rocket launch kicks things off, participants in the Space Fest "Run the Solar System" Fun Run at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force will race through a scale version of the solar system, starting at the sun and passing all the planets, during the 5K run.

Nick Spark / Jessica Cox RIGHTFOOTED Documentary Important Update!

A DOCUMENTARY FILM ABOUT JESSICA COX www.Rightfootedmovie.com

Our project is fiscally sponsored by the International Documentary Association (IDA) documentary.org Donations made in support of the film are tax deductible On February 11th, we'll be launching a new fundraising campaign on the website Indiegogo.  Indiegogo is a partner of the IDA. we'll We'll be sending a reminder on February 11th about the new campaign, and hope that you'll share it and our exciting new video trailer with your family and friends. 2012 RECAP & EXCITING NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN 2013 Posted 01/22/13 Greetings from Nick Spark, director and producer of "Rightfooted".  For those of you who don't know about my new project, it's a documentary about a truly amazing and inspirational woman named Jessica Cox who, although born without arms, earned her pilot's license.  She now works around the world to educate, motivate, and change things for the alternately-abled.   Thanks to all of those who helped us in 2012 -- without your support this film simply would not be possible that's for sure.   2012 was an incredibly eventful and surprising year for Jessica and our production.  But before I recap that, I want to let you know that the first few months of 2013 will be critical for us!  Breaking news, Jessica has had an amazing opportunity drop into her lap.  In April, she's been invited to travel to Ethiopia under the auspices of Handicap International -- an affiliate of the Nobel Prize winning NGO.  Jessica will be working with alternately-abled children and trying to help re-shape perceptions in the society-at-large — a society where disabled children have few prospects and rarely receive an education.  This trip represents a new new level of action for Jessica, and could be the heart of our film.  In order to make the trip possible and to film it, we'll be launching a fundraising campaign on crowdsourcing site Indiegogo starting February 11th.  The link (not active until Feb. 11th) will be:   http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/309651   Please make a note of it on your calendars and share with friends when it goes live.  Part of the campaign includes a wonderful new video about Jessica that we know you'll want to share with friends.     Now, 2012 was a busy and rewarding time for our filmmaking team, and a wonderful year for Jessica.  Not only did she tie the knot with fiancé Patrick in May, but in November she received a Susan G. Komen Inspiration Award.  Wow!       Inspiring Journeys in 2012 Posted 01/18/13 Keeping up with Jessica Cox isn’t easy!  Not only did she tie the knot with fiancé Patrick in May, but in November she received a Susan G. Komen Inspiration Award (see photo above).  Detailing these events I'll leave for the film.  What I do want to share with you, as an example of what we documented this year, is a trip we took to America's heartland.   It was in fact a trip to Iowa.  In a small rural town, we filmed Jessica’s visit with a family whose 4-year-old daughter Grace was born (like Jessica) without arms.  For Grace, who had been watching videos of Jessica on Youtube since she was two, Jessica’s appearance in her house was nothing short of a miracle.  The two bonded quickly as you can imagine, and Gracie proudly showed off her new friend to her assembled brothers, sisters and cousin.  But while Jessica’s visit was clearly important to Grace, it was her quiet, confident counseling of parents Greg and Patricia that really made the trip worthwhile.  “What I am seeing is that Gracie is fine,” Jessica told us.  “But her parents needed to see and hear directly from me that despite having no arms, she can do anything she wants and she really doesn’t have many limits compared to any other four-year-old.  She has a bright future and I think they just need to be reassured about that.”    As part of the visit Jessica visited Grace's school, where she gave a presentation to the entire student body.   It was obvious from the reception -- the students gave Jessica their undivided attention which for elementary students is a real achievement -- that she made an impression.  I imagine the visit will pay dividends in their future lives, and certainly affect their treatment of fellow student Gracie.   Photos: Jessica first meets Gracie (l), and spends some personal time with her (r).   We coordinated our visit to Iowa with a special event in nearby Kansas City called “Challenge Air”.  Founded by former fighter pilot Rick Amber, who lost the use of his legs in an aviation accident on the USS Hancock, Challenge Air’s mission is to allow children with physical and other challenges and to see the world from a different perspective – from above.  Jessica joined a fantastic group of volunteer pilots who took dozens of children flying.  One of them was Grace, who had the distinction of going up in a twin-engine airplane piloted by Austen Plain with Jessica in the co-pilot’s seat.   We had no idea how Grace would react to going up in an airplane for the first time.  Would all the noise and the sight of the ground dropping away frighten her, or heaven forbid would she panic or get airsick?  As it turned out, none of the above:  Grace seemed to love her time in the air, and once back down on terra firma headed off to the computer flight simulator table.  Following Jessica’s lead, she took the stick in her feet and started flying.   This is just a short preview of one part of our film, but I think it gives insight into the project’s purpose and course.  Jessica is making a difference all the time, sometimes with just one individual, sometimes with groups of people, and we’re grateful to be there documenting her efforts.  In the coming weeks we’re going to make an important announcement about a major opportunity both for Jessica and the film, and I hope you’ll be able to help spread the word and make it possible for us to continue what so far, has been a wonderful journey.    Thanks again for all your encouragement, support, and for helping spread the word.  — Nick Spark

Join us on Facebook      Follow us on Twitter      Send us an Email Nick Spark Productions LLC | 8911 Gibson Street | Los Angeles, CA 90034

Indy Transponder 04-MAR-2012 1300z

Air show to feature wing walker - News-Press Now | The “International Edition” of the Sound of Speed Airshow coming May 5 and 6 will feature a Canadian woman walking the top wing of a 1940 Navy Stearman bi-plane, and one of America's fifth-generation fighters — the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor...

Indonesian Growth Boosts Singapore Airshow from www.ainonline.com : Latest News by Charles Alcock | Southeast Asia, rather than the behemoth economies of China and India, provided the bulk of the sales impetus for the 2012 Singapore Airshow. More specifically, it was from Singapore’s neighbor Indonesia that the latest wave of airline fleet modernization came when Lion Air confirmed a massive order for 201 of Boeing’s new 737Max-9 narrowbodies, plus 29 of the existing 737-900ERs. Lion Air had in fact made provisional commitments for the aircraft at last November’s Dubai Air Show but the fact that the deal has been firmed up so quickly and conclusively is undoubtedly good news for Boeing....

Race in the Skies - WSET | This summer, they'll make a journey across the country by plane in the Air Race Classic. It's an all female competition modeled after the "powder puff derby" that Amelia Earhart flew in. We met with some of the Liberty Belles Friday.

Canadian Skyhawk, by Craig Obrien from Bonjour BlueSky | Canadian Skyhawk, by Craig Obrien.

FlightMonkeys Celebrates Girl Power with Girls with Wings Founder, Lynda Meeks from Flight Monkeys by Chief Monkey  | We’re back with another episode of the Fabulous FlightMonkeys Podcast, and this one is a beauty. Lynda Meeks Skyped in to chat with Jamie about Girls with Wings, being a professional flight instructor, and why women make better pilots than men do. She’s funny, smart, accomplished, and one of the best role models we’ve come across in quite some time. We’re hooked.

Pilot born without arms tells MT pilots her story - KPAX-TV | "From day one I was born without arms, so from very early on I had to become adept with using my feet," said Jessica Cox. Her quest to becoming a pilot began with her fear to fly. "Eleanor Roosevelt once said, 'Identify your greatest fear, ...

Grief During Wartime Up next, a series of posts about Harald... from x planes |Up next, a series of posts about Harald Penrose, a remarkable British test pilot and author. In the meantime: the following story is taken from a chapter in his autobiography, Adventure With Fate. Penrose was chief test pilot at Westland Aircraft during the Second World War - which was a...


WWII Veteran Finally Receives Military Honors - KGTV San Diego | George Balthazor was a decorated pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions during the war, but problems surfaced after he returned home to Wisconsin. "I would hear his screams at night," said Frank ...

7771K from Randy TinsethWhen you think about it, 1995 wasn’t all that long ago. But since that time, we’ve seen 1,000 777s come out of the Everett factory. Today, we took time to celebrate that incredible milestone with thousands of the men and women who built those beautiful airplanes....

Harrier Refueling Over Afghanistan (2012) from AIRBOYD.TV by Airboyd
Igarashi Design Personal Helicopter from Helikopter Hysterie - The Helicopter Blog by Axel V | I recently had an email conversation with Yutaka Igarashi about the helicopter shown in today's photos, which we have obtained permission to show here on HH. The renderings are of a single seat personal helicopter, powered by a turboshaft engine. The rotorcraft is designed exquisitely, combining design themes from several different engineering fields into one unique beautiful machine.

Business Aviation Taps Asia’s Bounty from www.ainonline.com : Latest News by Charles Alcock | Hawker Beechcraft found itself on the receiving end of the Lion Air spending spree when the Indonesian airline ordered a pair of Hawker 900XPs, with options for two more. The operator says it intends to use the jets, which are scheduled for delivery in the second and third quarters of this year, to meet growing demand for executive charter services throughout Asia. Indonesia, in particular, is a rising regional hotspot thanks to the growth in personal wealth in the country....

NASA Commercial Crew Budget Under Review from Spaceports | Congressman Frank Wolf (R-Va.), chairman of the House Appropriations commerce, justice, science subcommittee, suggested in comments during a Congressional hearing this past week that it might be better for the four NASA-funded commercial crew programs come together under NASA's leadership, reports Space News....

Indy Transponder 02-OCT-2011 0300z

Pilots Thrill Special Audience - Fort Smith Times Record | Samuel White, 9, of Fort Smith talks with Msgt Kimberley Harrison with the Thunderbirds during the practice session Friday, Sept. 30, 2011, at the Fort Smith Regional Airport. Samuel, with Make-A-Wish, received a special Thunderbird pin and a souvenir ...

Air Show still a place of fascination - Coast News | The Marines had opened up their base for the 2011 MCAS Miramar Air Show media day. “It's an opportunity we give to our media partners to come out…and get up and actually fly with some of our civilian performers,” said Sgt. Sean P. McGinty, ...

Meet the Blue Angels - Hanford Sentinel | All those attending will be able to rub elbows with the Blue Angels while they're in town for the Central Valley NAS Lemoore Air Show. The evening will include a tri-tip dinner from 6 pm to 9 pm and dancing from 9 pm to midnight. ...

AEROBATICS, WARBIRDS, WING WALKERS SOAR OVER SKIES OF APPLE VALLEY - Military & Aerospace Electronics | With classic warbirds, aircraft aerobatics and military aircraft, this year's Apple Valley Airshow will take place on Oct. 8, 2011. The airshow will feature renowned Red Bull air race champion Mike Mangold in his L-29 Jet, Rob Harrison "The Tumbling ...

5th Special Forces Group celebration a big success - Clarksville Leaf Chronicle | There have been many milestones observed by Green Berets of the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) over its relatively short, but storied history, but many pale in comparison to the milestone celebrated here last week.  Past and present members of the 5th SFG (A) commemorated the 50th anniversary of the unit's activation, which originally took place Sept. 21, 1961, at Ft. Bragg, N.C. The week-long reunion allowed  ...

SANDF parachutists hurt in mass jump - News24 | Johannesburg - Fourteen parachutists were injured during a mass jump at an airshow at the Waterkloof Air Force base on Saturday, the SA National Defence Force said. Spokesperson Colonel Petrus Motlhabane said he could not give more details. ...  [Emblem via Wikipedia]

Largest-scale flypast planned for centennial Oct. 10 National Day - eTaiwan News | The roughly four-minute event, part of a centennial National Day military parade, will be the largest-scale warplane flypast ever staged in Taiwan, MND officials said. The military aircraft, including fighter jets, helicopters and transports, ...

One-man show by award-winning Newnan artist opens today - Newnan Times-Herald | His artwork has illustrated such magazines as Aviation History and Military History, among others. Professional recognition and accolades for his artwork include winning First Place-Military from Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine for his ...

Expansion now open at the Air Zoo - WWMT | It features new and current exhibits, aircraft and space artifacts, as well as an additional exhibit about women in aviation. "The Air Zoo now has even more rich and historic experiences for guests to enjoy," said Bob Ellis, Air Zoo president and CEO. ...

Airventure 2011 by Tyson V. Rininger from Tyson Rininger | F/A-18F SuperHornet from VFA-122 sports a 'Digi-Cam' paint scheme. Here the SuperHornet approaches the speed of sound creating a vapor cone around the aircraft.

More pics from Ardmore from Making a Kiwi Fly by Flyinkiwi

Profile 59 - "Miss America" as crewed by Howard Jensen and Ken Tesch from WWII & Korean Conflict Airplane Profiles by JSM | Posted above is my update to Howard's B-24.  Give me a week and she'll be done.  I learned something new about B-24s that caused a chain reaction that will boggle your brain - regardless if you care about WW2 bombers or not.  It started with learning that "Miss America" was actually a product of The Ford Motor Company.  See that demarcation between the upper "olive drab" color and the light gray on the bomber's bottom?  That's the clue.  The bombers built by Consolidated Aircraft were painted with a straight line. Ford went wavy. ...

Rivet Haste: Rebirth of the USAF at the end of Vietnam from Tails Through Time by JP Santiago | Heritage Flight F-4E Phantom painted in Vietnam-era colors.  In several prior postings I had talked about how the United States set about improving the performance of its fighter pilots over the skies of Vietnam. The first one dealt with the testing and analysis of MiG fighters that had been obtained secretly by the United States and the second posting covered the origins of Red Flag, the exercises in Nevada that gave pilots valuable experience under simulated combat conditions. The Navy also instituted ...

Armless pilot uplifts spirit of disabled persons - Ghana Broadcasting Corporation | Jessica Cox who is a motivational speaker has done a lot to uplift the spirit of disabled persons. She told GBC's Radio Ghana that her motivation for flying a plane came from fear, that is, the fear of flying. Ms Cox said she does not want to see ...

FlightTime Radio Show 194 - from The FlightTime Radio Show | Milford and Charlie were in the studio today talking with Scott Wick of Wick's Aircraft Supply. Scott talked about how they got started and even about the project that he is helping Burt Rutan out with!

Virgin Galactic’s upcoming spaceflight plans from Personal Spaceflight | Virgin Galactic president and CEO George Whitesides offered Saturday some clarity on the company’s plans to move ahead with the next phase of test flights of its SpaceShipTwo suborbital vehicle. Speaking at the 100 Year Starship Study Symposium in Orlando, Florida, Whitesides noted that SpaceShipTwo has not ...

Ultra-light crashes into Ferris wheel in Australia from PhotoBlog | People look at an ultra-light Cheetah S200 airplane stuck in a Ferris wheel after it crashed into the fairground attraction following takeoff from a nearby airstrip in Taree, New South Wales, on October 1, 2011. The plane left dangling from the structure trapped its pilot and passenger inside. Two children, a boy and a girl, who were on the ride at the time of the accident were rescued unharmed, police said.  ...