Able Flight names 2017 scholarship recipients

“This year’s class will train at Able Flight’s programs at Purdue University and Ohio State University, and includes a U.S. Army captain wounded in combat, five people who use wheelchairs due to paralysis caused by injury, a young woman with diabetes, and a young man who is deaf,” the organization said on its website.

Full flight training scholarships were awarded to Melissa Allensworth of California, Kathryn Brenner of Illinois, Capt. Ferris Butler of Colorado, Chris Corsi of North Carolina, Kunho Kim of Massachusetts, Benedict Jones of Indiana, Zackery Kukorlo of Washington, and Brice Lott of North Carolina. Steven Martinez of Wisconsin received a Flight Training Challenge scholarship that will enable him to complete some dual instruction in a light sport aircraft.

Able Flight has partnered with Purdue University since 2010. This is the first year of the program’s expansion to Ohio State University, which was announced in November 2016. Scholarship recipients will earn sport pilot certificates and will receive Able Flight wings at EAA AirVenture. Flight Training magazine profiled the Able Flight program in 2012.

Able Flight also announced that Jake Jeter, the first quadriplegic to earn a pilot certificate through the program, has built an airplane. Jeter built the Van’s Aircraft RV-12 light sport aircraft with the assistance of his father, Jim, who is a retired Navy and airline pilot. The Jeters incorporated their own design for adapted hand controls in the RV-12. By late January, Jeter had already logged 35 hours and is planning a multi-city flying adventure, Able Flight said.