Orion Too

From Chapter 5 ....

   I had time during my Wisconsin visit to reflect back on a prior business trip to the city of Waukesha, Wisconsin near Milwaukee.  On my last day, I finished early and being an airplane buff, decided to visit a small local airport to see what types of general aviation airplanes might be on the field.  As it turned out, Waukesha was the home base for a relatively large number of general aviation airplanes.  Most airplanes were in closed hangers but dozens were tied down on the tarmac outside the hangers.  The airplanes secured outside were of all types and interesting to examine up close.  While on the airfield, I saw a car drive up and park near one of the teid down airplanes.

   This particular airplane, called an Ercoupe, was one that had become a relatively rare flying machine.  Ercoupes (later called the Alon Aircoupe and then Mooney M10 Cadet) were first made before World War II and designed with coordinated flight controls.  In other words, the pilot had a steering yoke that would operate, or coordinate, the rudders and ailerons simultaneously.  It was a two seat, side-by-side, low wing airplane with a very distinctive twin rudder/vertical stabilizer arrangement.  I had never flown one but always looked upon them as aerodynamically distinctive and beautiful flying machines.  Other pilots had told me that they were generally an easy aiplane to fly, just a little lethargic and could be a real handful if you were landing with a strong cross wind (then coordinated controls became a detriment).

   Here is what I found most interesting.  It turned out the driver of the car was wheelchair bound.  He was a very cheerful and friendly person, who I initially thought was there to get a ride in an airplane.  Not so.  He started around the Ercoupe in his wheelchair untied the ropes that secured the plane in place and doing a pre-flight inspection.  I immediately went over to offer my assistance and he said, "Oh no, I can do just fine, watch me!"

   We talked briefly as he did his pre-flight check of the airplane:  wheels, brakes, ailerons, rudders, propeller and engine oil level, a procedure that required him to pull up out of the chair above the engine nacle.  He moved to the port-side wing of the plane, at the rear near the wing root, and pulled himself up onto the wing, reached down and folded his wheelchair up, placed it on its side, slid back the cockpit canopy, and got into the plane.  After completing his initial cockpit checks, he called out "clear prop," engaged the starter, and watched his control panel as the airplane's engine gauges came to life, and the Ercoupe began to warm up.  He then taxied to the "run-up" pad at the end of the runway to complete his final flight control and engine checks before flight.  As he advanced the throttle and the Ercouple began to move, I started to wave good-bye and then thought no, not good enough.  I snapped to attention and gave this pilot a sharp military salute.  He smiled, returned my salute and was on his way.  What a remarkable individual.

   As I watched this pilot climb away from the airport in his Ercoupe, I knew that his personal little world was a very special one.  He was doing just fine as he stated.

   This pilot story is included here because it stands out as a classic example of a person with a very positive can-do attitude.  To quote Henry Ford:  "If you think you can . . . you're right."

   Later in chapter fifteen, I talk a little more about physically disabled workers and what an important, highly procuctive, human asset they can be in any business.