Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 8, 2024 23:06:38 GMT 12
From The Press, 28 February 1958:
PILOT WITHOUT USE OF LEGS
Light Aircraft Adapted
(New Zealand Press Association) BLENHEIM, February 27.
The conversion of a light aircraft to enable it to be operated by a pilot who has no use in his legs has been authorised by the Civil Aviation Administration. The plane, a Marlborough Aero Club Piper, has been granted an experimental certificate of airworthiness.
The man who is flying the plane, familiarising himself with me modified controls, accompanied for the time being by another pilot, is Mr R. L. Graham, of Blenheim, who lost the use of his legs when he had poliomyelitis in May, 1956. At that time he was a pilot for Aerial Work (Marlborough), Ltd.
Mr Graham flew the plane for two hours yesterday and was up again today. He is fully confident he will fly again and he hopes to be back at his old job as a topdressing pilot before long.
Mr H. L. Macgregor, or Aircraft Engineering, Rongotai, adopted Mr Graham’s idea for incorporating the rudder controls, normally foot-controlled, on the control column of the aircraft. Looking into the cockpit of the Piper, the only unusual feature of the controls is the presence of a half wheel on the control stick — a smaller version of that seen on larger aircraft.
This half-wheel does the work of the rudder control bar which is disconnected and left flat on the floor of the cockpit.
An experimental certificate of airworthiness has been issued the plane while Mr Graham undergoes several hours of familiarisation flying in company with another pilot. He will then undergo a test by Civil Aviation Administration authorities and if this is satisfactory Mr Graham will get back his commercial licence.
PILOT WITHOUT USE OF LEGS
Light Aircraft Adapted
(New Zealand Press Association) BLENHEIM, February 27.
The conversion of a light aircraft to enable it to be operated by a pilot who has no use in his legs has been authorised by the Civil Aviation Administration. The plane, a Marlborough Aero Club Piper, has been granted an experimental certificate of airworthiness.
The man who is flying the plane, familiarising himself with me modified controls, accompanied for the time being by another pilot, is Mr R. L. Graham, of Blenheim, who lost the use of his legs when he had poliomyelitis in May, 1956. At that time he was a pilot for Aerial Work (Marlborough), Ltd.
Mr Graham flew the plane for two hours yesterday and was up again today. He is fully confident he will fly again and he hopes to be back at his old job as a topdressing pilot before long.
Mr H. L. Macgregor, or Aircraft Engineering, Rongotai, adopted Mr Graham’s idea for incorporating the rudder controls, normally foot-controlled, on the control column of the aircraft. Looking into the cockpit of the Piper, the only unusual feature of the controls is the presence of a half wheel on the control stick — a smaller version of that seen on larger aircraft.
This half-wheel does the work of the rudder control bar which is disconnected and left flat on the floor of the cockpit.
An experimental certificate of airworthiness has been issued the plane while Mr Graham undergoes several hours of familiarisation flying in company with another pilot. He will then undergo a test by Civil Aviation Administration authorities and if this is satisfactory Mr Graham will get back his commercial licence.
