By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – History was celebrated Friday, May 15, at the Pima Air & Space Museum as Tucson’s own Jessica Cox was inducted into the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame.
Read more Woman accused of swapping empty boxes for packages in Paradise Valley
As the world’s first licensed armless pilot, Cox’s induction recognizes her permanent place in state history and her ongoing impact on aviation, advocacy, and disability-led innovation.
She has spent her life proving that “impossible” is just a starting point.
“Ever since I was a little girl, I just remember being told things like, ‘You can’t do it,’ or ‘You’re handicapped,’ and all these types of labels,” Cox said. “But I knew deep down it was possible.”
Born in Sierra Vista in 1983 without arms due to a rare congenital condition, Cox has never let her physical circumstances hold her back. The University of Arizona graduate and Taekwondo black belt famously turned her greatest fear into her greatest triumph in 2008 when she earned her pilot’s license.
“My greatest fear was flying, and so what better way to overcome that fear than to become a pilot?” Cox said. “It’s truly a blessing to be that example to the world that if I can fly an airplane with my feet, there should be nothing that should hold back anyone.”
Cox’s induction places her name and photograph inside the museum’s Dorothy Finley Aerospace Gallery, which serves as a permanent shrine to aviation pioneers.
“To be acknowledged by the Hall of Fame here at the Pima Air and Space Museum… it gives me goosebumps,” Cox said. “To inspire the next generation of aviators and dreamers that they can do anything? It’s really a blessing.”
Through her work with her nonprofit, Rightfooted Foundation International, Cox has opened the cockpit to other aspiring pilots born without arms.
Read more Phoenix mom seeks answers after delay in son’s critical medical equipment
She is currently leading a team of engineers to build “The Impossible Airplane,” the first aircraft in aviation history designed from the ground up to be flown entirely without hands.
She plans to use the aircraft as a national outreach platform, visiting schools and events to inspire children through aviation and the belief that anything is possible.
The aircraft is scheduled to make its premiere this summer at AirVenture, the world’s largest aviation gathering.
Looking further ahead, Cox aims to fly the innovative aircraft during the opening ceremonies of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Alongside Cox, the Hall of Fame honored Frank Schiel Jr., a Phoenix-born and Prescott-raised Flying Tigers aviator credited with seven Japanese aircraft destroyed during World War II, and James K. Johnson, a Phoenix-born U.S. Air Force colonel and Korean War double ace credited with ten aerial victories in Korea.
============================================
Are you streaming 13 News?
Watch a free live stream of Tucson Now and 13 News at TucsonNow.Live.
Be sure to download the free Tucson Now app, which you can find on Apple and Google.
If you are using a desktop computer, you can use your mobile device to scan the QR code below.
You can submit your breaking news or weather images here.