Capstone Team Designing "The Impossible Plane"

A team of engineering undergrads is working to make an airplane control panel that can be operated by a pilot without arms for its Interdisciplinary Capstone project. The so-called "Impossible Airplane" project is a collaboration between University of Arizona students and alum Jessica Cox, the first armless, licensed pilot in history. 

Cox flies by crossing her right foot over to grab the yoke while her left foot crisscrosses to control the throttle on the panel. She has typically flown an Ercoupe low-wing monoplane. However, this plane’s technology is limited, and Cox has her goals set on flying the more complex and powerful RV-10.

Assistant professor of biomedical engineering David Margolis, the student group's project advisor, was a natural fit for the project, as he is a pilot and hand surgeon. When he learned about Cox’s goal to create what she calls “The Impossible Airplane” armless RV-10, he knew the project would benefit from having UA engineers involved.

“I consider her a personal hero, even before I met her, and I talk to many of my patients that have had very bad upper extremity injuries about her and how anything they want to do is possible following their injuries,” Margolis said.

Ideally, this project will mean Cox can upgrade from the two-person, 85 mph Ercoupe, to the four-person, 200 mph RV-10.