Things that make you go, "Cool!"...

[jrh]

10 points to whoever can guess why there is a big blue bar in this Piper Colt cockpit.

Hint: The aircraft owner has something similar installed in his pickup truck.

I saw this setup and flew with the owner just this evening. When I first saw how he'd rigged things up, all I could say was, "Cool!"...I'd never seen anything like it before.

[mtsu_av8er]

There aren't any brakes on the right side, so that's the only way that a CFI can apply them from his/her side.

[jrh]

Originally Posted by mtsu_av8er

There aren't any brakes on the right side, so that's the only way that a CFI can apply them from his/her side.

Nope, try again.

Another hint: The black lever extending downward from the instrument panel is used to apply the brakes in this plane, which is another reason why the owner decided to buy a Colt.

[Berkut]

Owner missing a leg?

[GatorFC]

Originally Posted by Berkut

Owner missing a leg?

That's what I was about to guess. Owner's handicapped.

[flyer8]

The bar is used to control the rudder, specially designed for paralyzed people...

[jrh]

Originally Posted by Berkut

Owner missing a leg?

Ehhh...close enough, I'll give it to you

The owner's paraplegic (sp?) and uses a wheelchair. Paralyzed from the waist down.

I'd always known it's possible to use a wheelchair and still be independent, but this guy really showed me how it's done. I watched him drive up to his hangar, open up the hangar doors, pull his plane out, preflight everything, and climb in, all with zero assistance. All I had to do was roll his wheelchair away from the plane and stick it in the hangar when he was ready to fly.

He's a pretty decent pilot, too. He holds the yoke with his left hand and works the rudder, throttle, and hand brake with his right hand. It's amazing how fast he can move between the throttle and rudder bar on short final. We did basic pattern work and he could handle everything just fine, even with a slight crosswind.

It's a good reminder of just how creative and adaptable people can be.

[surreal1221]

Very cool indeed.

[Crockrocket94]

Thats what I was going to guess!

They had an article in FLYING or Pilot Training, about parapalegic pilots. Very cool indeed!

edit :

I'm willing to be he gets mighty stabilized on final

[GatorFC]

I'm willing to bet he's got a Popeye-sized right arm.

[Soul Brotha']

Crap I was going to say it was "The Club" for airplanes.

[WAFlyBoy]

Very interesting! I did an aircraft checkout a couple months ago for a guy who lost a hand. Regardless of his amputation, I'd like to highlight that he impressed me as a damn good pilot.