Paraplegic Helo Pilot
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Joined: Mar 2005
Aviation Qualifications: Military
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From: Aus
Paraplegic Helo Pilot
Don't know if the Mods will see this as advertising, I thought his story was worth sharing, good on him. Reminds me of a wheelchair bound individual who built their own RV-6, nice to see folk who make we mere mortals look mundane. From Avweb.
Stewart McQuillan is a former Royal Air Force Tornado pilot who suffered a triple spinal injury in a takeoff accident. It left him wheelchair-bound, but he regained his pilot license through the Douglas Bader Foundation.Bader lost both legs in a 1931 flying accident, talked his way back into RAF service, and led a wing of Spitfires during the Battle of Britain. He was inspirational to his fellow fighter pilots and, after the war, continued to advocate for the disabled, thus the foundation established in his honor.
McQuillan is carrying on Bader’s tradition. An engineer as well as a pilot, he learned to fly helicopters—developing a technology that enables paraplegic pilots to control the antitorque pedals from thumb switches on the cyclic and collective controls.
Having emigrated to America and become a citizen, he is also dedicated to helping veterans here in the United States through the National Veterans Vocational Village (NV3), in Colorado Springs, Colorado, home of the U.S. Air Force Academy. NV3 is “a self-sustaining vocational training center and residential village that educates, employs, and houses disabled and injured veterans—and those with invisible wounds—transitioning from military and first responder duties to civilian life.”
Sponsored in part by RotorX, McQuillan is preparing a tour of U.S. veterans hospitals next summer. He appeared at the RotorX display at EAA AirVenture with the helicopter he built, himself.
McQuillan is carrying on Bader’s tradition. An engineer as well as a pilot, he learned to fly helicopters—developing a technology that enables paraplegic pilots to control the antitorque pedals from thumb switches on the cyclic and collective controls.
Having emigrated to America and become a citizen, he is also dedicated to helping veterans here in the United States through the National Veterans Vocational Village (NV3), in Colorado Springs, Colorado, home of the U.S. Air Force Academy. NV3 is “a self-sustaining vocational training center and residential village that educates, employs, and houses disabled and injured veterans—and those with invisible wounds—transitioning from military and first responder duties to civilian life.”
Sponsored in part by RotorX, McQuillan is preparing a tour of U.S. veterans hospitals next summer. He appeared at the RotorX display at EAA AirVenture with the helicopter he built, himself.
Joined: Jul 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL(H)
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From: UK
I met Stewart briefly years & years ago. I quick dig into the archives tells me that he used to post on here (as aerolog):
Helicopters flying for the disabled
Helicopters flying for the disabled
Joined: Sep 2002
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
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From: Great South East, tired and retired
A bit like the story of Allana Arnot, made a paraplegic in a plane crash, but learned to walk again, got her helicopter licence, and became the first woman to circumnavigate Australia in a helicopter. Double tragedy when her husband Roger Corbin was killed 2 years ago in a longline accident.
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Redding CA, or on a fire somewhere
Another one who also flew Tornadoes, Martin also flies helicopters......I flew with Martin on Nimrods and he has also flown a helicopter with me:
Martin H Lloyd
Martin H Lloyd
Joined: Sep 2004
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL(H)
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From: Canada
Thread Drift:
While not a true story but uplifting.
In the new Magnum P.I.series “Shammy” a paraplegic, played by Christopher Thornton, obtains his helicopter rating thanks to TC and flies the 500D.
While not a true story but uplifting.
In the new Magnum P.I.series “Shammy” a paraplegic, played by Christopher Thornton, obtains his helicopter rating thanks to TC and flies the 500D.
Joined: Oct 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: Den Haag
Another one who also flew Tornadoes, Martin also flies helicopters......I flew with Martin on Nimrods and he has also flown a helicopter with me:
Martin H Lloyd
Martin H Lloyd
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,081
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From: Redding CA, or on a fire somewhere
Joined: Feb 2010
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On the same thread drift, does anybody know what happened to Trevor Jones, the ex RN pilot who was rendered paraplegic after a skiing accident representing the RN? He was making the best of his life flying microlights and sailing around UK after the accident but have not heard anything for about 15 years or so.
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Texas
