A 1946 Ercoupe 415-C, serial number #3153, serves as a primary tool for Jessica Cox to demonstrate that physical disability does not preclude flight. Born in Sierra Vista in 1983 without arms, she has established a career as a pilot, writer, and speaker, navigating the complexities of daily tasks and aviation through the use of her feet.
Aviation Achievement
Cox earned her pilot's certificate on October 10, 2008, following three years of training supported by an Able Flight scholarship. Under the instruction of Parrish Traweek, she learned to operate a light-sport aircraft. The chosen aircraft, an Ercoupe 415-C, features a design where the rudder is linked to the ailerons via the yoke, eliminating the need for rudder pedals. Cox controls the aircraft by manipulating the yoke with one foot while operating the throttle with the other, reaching altitudes of up to 10,000 feet. In 2020, she flew retired Senator Tom Harkin near Washington, DC, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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Training in Sierra Vista since age 10, Cox achieved her first black belt by age 14. During her time at the University of Arizona, she pursued further ranks within the American Taekwondo Association. Instructors adapted the standard curriculum for her, substituting movements such as knee strikes for punches. She attained second and third-degree black belts, and won the 2014 Arizona State Champion title in forms, competing against standard participants rather than in a special abilities category. By 2019, she had reached the level of a fourth-degree black belt.
Education and Personal Autonomy
Cox graduated from the University of Arizona in 2005, holding a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in communications. She ceased the use of prosthetic arms at age 14, developing the capacity to perform daily tasks using her feet. This includes driving an unmodified vehicle with an unrestricted license, typing at 25 words per minute, and managing contact lenses. Beyond land-based activities, she is a certified scuba diver and participated in the 40-mile segment of the 2014 El Tour de Tucson.
Advocacy and Public Work
As a motivational speaker, Cox has presented in 26 countries. She authored an autobiographical book, Disarm Your Limits, in 2015 to discuss her personal experiences. Her life and work are documented in the film Right Footed, directed by Nick Spark, which details her humanitarian travels to the Philippines and Ethiopia. Her influence extends to engineering; Emirati engineer Reem Al Marzouqi developed a patented Lower Extremity Vehicle Navigation Control System inspired by Cox's driving methods.
Fast facts
- Born: 1983, Sierra Vista, United States
- Education: University of Arizona, 2005
- Aviation: Earned pilot certificate, October 10, 2008
- Aircraft: Ercoupe 415-C
- Taekwondo: Fourth-degree black belt
- Publication: Disarm Your Limits, 2015
Questions readers ask
How does Jessica Cox fly an airplane without arms?
She uses an Ercoupe 415-C, a light-sport aircraft designed without rudder pedals, allowing her to control the yoke and throttle using her feet.
What degree did Jessica Cox earn at the University of Arizona?
She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in communications in 2005.
Achievements
- Recorded as motivational speaker, aircraft pilot and diver
