Able Flight

Changing Lives Though The Challenge and Freedom of Flight

Able Flight Pilot Chris Sullivan Earns Instrument Rating

Able Flight pilot Chris Sullivan being presented with his certificate for earning his Instrument Rating

On Monday January 13th, Able Flight pilot Chris Sullivan of Louisiana passed his check ride to earn his Instrument Rating. Those who remember his story are well aware of how determined he is when he sets a goal, and how challenging it is for him dealing with the effects of paralysis. Chris served as a Sergeant in the Army and was critically injured when he was shot in the spine while in a combat zone in 2005, and that injury left him a quadriplegic.

He earned his first license through Able Flight after training at Purdue in a Sky Arrow, then his Private on his own. He then added an Advanced Ground Instructor Certificate, and now his Instrument Rating. Chris plans to take his Commercial check ride soon. Making his recent success all the more impressive, this comes after nearly a year spent mostly in bed while recovering from a serious illness.

The Piper Arrow you see behind Chris and the examiner is one Chris bought from Clayton Smeltz, a pilot/engineer who is a paraplegic. Clayton has received FAA approval for adapted controls he designed, installed and tested in several of his own planes, including his own Cirrus Vision Jet.

In 2024, Clayton generously spent a great deal of time creating the adapted hand controls for the Vashon Rangers for which Able Flight raised funds in 2023 and 2024. We have now donated those two Rangers to our training partner Southern Illinois University in return for their long term commitment to train Able Flight Scholarship recipients.

Chris Sullivan’s son Jaxson is now taking flying lessons, and as soon as he is old enough will solo and later earn his Private certificate. He often flies with his dad and assists with loading his wheelchair into the baggage area.

Congratulations Chris!

OUR NEW PILOTS GET THEIR WINGS

 Able Flight’s Class of 2024 with flight instructors and sponsors

Nine new Able Flight pilots were honored at a special ceremony at EAA AirVenture on Tuesday, July 23rd. They were joined on stage by their flight instructors from both Purdue University and Southern Illinois University along with sponsors whose generous gifts make the program possible.  The nine scholarship recipients trained at Purdue and SIU from late May into July. Seven of the nine new pilots attended the ceremony, including Andrew Daigneau, Jake Robinson, Omar Duran, Natallia Mirashnichenka, Jordan Sprague, Tyler Pugeda and Jake Simmons. Also honored but unable to attend were Ian Azeredo and Tim Riney, Jr.

Pinning their Able Flight Wings were Patrick Sniffen of Cirrus Aircraft (pinning Jake Robinson), Martin Ingram of Muncie Aviation, along with Andrew’s father Judd Daigneau (pinning Andrew Daigneau), Zach Reising of the Blue Seven Scholarship (pinning Tyler Pugeda), Ryan Kelly representing the Mark Hogan Scholarship (pinning Jake Simmons), James Decker of ForeFlight (pinning Natallia Mirahnickenka), and Adam Kisielewski (pinning Omar Duran).

In recognition of his generous support, during the ceremony Zach Reising was honored as an honorary Able Flight pilot, with his wings pinned by his mother and father, Melissa and Jeff Reising. Two of this year’s flight instructors were recognized for their outstanding efforts as Able Flight’s Flight Instructors of the Year. They were David Nelson of SIU and Bobby O’Connor of Purdue.

The Able Flight Volunteer of the Year award (named for supporter Bob Seidel) was presented by Bill Perrone of founding sponsor Perrone Aerospace to Clayton Smeltz, a pilot and engineer who uses a wheelchair. Based on his history of designing adapted controls for his own Cirrus Vision Jet, Smeltz was asked to create  adapted controls for the Vashon Ranger LSA so that two of the aircraft could be used at SIU. He was honored for his exceptional work in designing, prototyping, testing and manufacturing the unique controls.

To read more about the ceremony and to see a gallery of images from the event, check out AOPA’s coverage here. And to see Aero News Network’s video of the ceremony visit here. The section on Able Flight begins at the 2:38 mark.

 

2024 Able Flight Pilots To Get Their Wings at AirVenture

Andrew Daigneau of Indiana is one of nine new Able Flight pilots to be honored at EAA AirVenture

It has been an outstanding year for the 2024 Able Flight Scholarship recipients with nine new pilots earning their wings. Their wings will be awarded in a special ceremony at EAA AirVenture on Tuesday 23rd at 10am at Theater In The Woods. Everyone is invited to attend this unique event.

Andrew Daigneau, Jake Simmons, Natallia Mirashnichenka, Ian Azeredo, Tyler Pugeda, Omar Duran, Jake Robinson, Jordan Sprague and Tim Riney, Jr earned pilot certificates during an intensive training program at Purdue University and Southern Illinois University between late May and early July.

The pilots will be honored individually at the ceremony as recipients of scholarships provided by ForeFlight, Tempest Aero Group, Muncie Aviation and Cirrus Aircraft. Also being awarded are scholarships honoring Zack Reising (Blue 7 Scholarship), Adam Kisielewski (U.S. Marine Corps-retired) and charity volunteer pilot Mark Hogan.

2024 marks the 14th year of Able Flight’s partnership with Purdue University, and its first year partnering with Southern Illinois University to provide training for scholarship recipients. It is Able Flight’s 18th year of providing full-ride flight training scholarships and aviation career training scholarships. Able Flight has 98 licensed pilots, including several who have earned multiple pilot certificates.