Helifirst - a world first for spinal injury
Some of the people who are helping make Helifirst a reality - (l-r) Peter McGee from Heliflite; Denita Craig from sponsor Commonwealth Bank; Jenny and Sam Bailey; Glenn Todhunter (who will teach Sam and Jenny to fly) and his wife Michelle; Nathan Barker and Kate Mihell, also from the Commonwealth Bank.
The dream to fly a helicopter...
For a long time now Sam Bailey has had a dream....to be the first quadriplegic in the world to fly a helicopter.
He says he wants to do it for three reasons.
"The first is because of my love for flying. There's nothing like the feeling I get when I leave the earth and look back on an empty wheelchair. The sense of freedom that gives me is almost impossible to describe," said Sam.
"The second is because so many people have told me I can't. They tell me you can't do it Sam, it can't be done Sam, you've got to be like an octopus Sam, you won't get through your medical it can't be done Sam. Pig's bum it can't be done! So I want to achieve this goal to prove all those people wrong.
"The third and main reason I want to fly a helicopter is because I have a vision of flying a helicopter into school ovals around this great country, getting out into my wheelchair, calling the kids over and telling my story prior to flying off. I believe it would be a powerful experience for children, that could help inspire them in fulfilling their own dreams and aspirations no matter what obstacles are placed in front of them throughout their lives. Today there are so many things that derail our children, like poor role models in the media, lack of parental guidance, broken homes, drugs, alcohol and others. It is my hope to become a positive role model that may help keep at least some of those children on track to fulfil their potential."
Sam and his wife Jenny have started working towards his dream and will up-date this page as the Helifirst project progresses.
Documentary being filmed
Sam and Jenny plan to make a television documentary about their journey towards achieving this world first, and have already started filming.
They hope to produce a series of half-hour programs that follow Helifirst from the dream right through to landing on their first school oval.
The documentary is being filmed by one of Australia's most experienced television cameramen and producer, Mike Middleton, from On Camera and a short promotional video for Helifirst is available now as a small file or a large file.
Commonwealth Bank gives support
The Commonwealth Bank, one of Australia's largest public companies, has agreed to provide sponsorship for the Helifirst project, as part of its on-going commitment towards community projects. CEO Ralph Norris gave his support at a meeting with Sam and Jenny in early November 2007.
Sam says, "It's amazing how much the Commonwealth Bank does in the community and its support for my Helifirst project is just one example of that. By the time I've achieved my goal of becoming the first quadriplegic in the world to fly a helicopter, and visited schools across the country, everyone will know about the great things the Commonwealth Bank is doing for our community."
Jenny Bailey and Michelle Todhunter (Glenn's wife) are pictured above (at front) with the team helping from the Commonwealth Bank (l-r, back) Nathan Barker, Denita Craig and Kate Mihell.
Sam and Jenny go for a fly
Theodore helicopter pilot and contractor, Jack Hewitt, gave Sam and Jenny an unexpected opportunity to take to the air during their visit to the town to speak in late November.
They went for a fly in his Robinson R44, the same type of helicopter they plan to learn to fly as part of the Helifirst project.
Jack owns Stirling Helicopter Services Pty Ltd. At just 26-years-of-age he already owns and operates three Robinson helicopters, contract mustering and aerial spraying throughout Queensland and northern NSW. He began flying at just 19, and already has 5000 hours of flying under his belt.
Jack and his wife Wendy operate the business from a small farm outside Theodore.
Sam and Jenny were thrilled to get a chance to take to the skies and Sam said it has made him even more excited about the thought of learning to fly a helicopter himself.
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(ABOVE): Jenny gets tips on flying from Jack Hewitt of Stirling Helicopter Services. (RIGHT): A very excited Sam learning about flying an R44 from Jack Hewitt before they went for a fly near Theodore in late November. Sam hopes to learn how to fly by late 2008/early 2009.
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Engineers design modification
A preliminary design study by Auto Avia Design into an alternative yaw control for a Robinson R44 II Helicopter indicates that such a modification should be possible with varying levels of limitations.
The study, completed in December 2007, concluded that a twist grip control or thumb operated alternative yaw control could be mounted on the cyclic, using some form of power operated controls.
And the good news is, the R44 II aircraft design and configuration permits relatively simple incorporation of a cyclic modification and control servo installation.
The study found the servo/actuator motor may be the most critical part of the design because it will need to provide full control (displacement and force) over the yaw control system, but immediately be able to be overridden by an alternative system in case of malfunction or failure of the system or aircraft power source.
The alternative system being recommended is a co-pilot (second crew member) and the existing aircraft yaw control pedals.
A second level of modification with a single axis Stability and Augmentation System (SAS)/Autopilot is also being considered to help reduce the pilot workload during certain flight regimes.
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Photo left: The team at the first Helifirst meeting in Sydney on December 13, 2007. David Symons (centre) owner of Auto Avia Design and one of his design engineers Gerard Blacklock (right of centre) outlined their recommendations for the modifications to the R44. Below: Sam discussing details about the Robinson R44 with Heliflite's Chief Engineer, Peter McGee. Heliflite imports Robinson Helicopters into Australia. |
Double Amputee to teach Sam to fly
A former full-time army officer who is still serving in the active reserve, Major Glenn Todhunter who won international recognition for his achievements in flying with two prosthetic legs, has joined the Helifirst team.
He will help Auto Avia Design test their proposed modifications to the Robinson R44, and will then teach Sam and Jenny (who will be co-pilot) to fly the modified helicopter.
Glenn is a double below knee amputee as a result of a light aircraft crash in 1995. He then achieved world-wide attention when he not only got back into the cockpit of his beloved Blackhawk helicopters, but was deemed medically fit for operational Defence Force deployment as an amputee aviator.
He is believed to be the only bilateral amputee military aviator in the world to actively serve in any armed forces as aircrew since Douglas Bader during World War II.
Glenn and his wife Michelle's story appeared on ABC Televisions' Australian Story in August, 2004, (see details) and he met Sam at the program's ten year reunion in Sydney during 2006.
Sam said, "There were three hundred people at the re-union and it was amazing that I should meet Glenn, because it wasn't obvious looking at him why he'd been on the program and I didn't know his story.
"Of course once he mentioned he was a Blackhawk pilot, I told him about my dream to fly a helicopter and the thing that I remember was his immediate enthusiasm for what I wanted to do.
"He offered to help and it just grew from there. But what is really unbelievable is the fact he has such an incredible knowledge of helicopters and aviation in general."
For Glenn, the meeting wasn't such a co-incidence.
He said, "I had seen Sam and Jen's inspiring episode of Australian Story, so when I saw Sam sitting in his wheelchair across the room I immediately walked over to introduce myself.
"After introductions the conversation changed to flying and Sam's ambition to fly helicopters."
Glenn says he immediately recognised a kindred pioneering spirit in Sam.
"I also respect someone who's prepared to give anything a go whilst asking 'what can be achieved with my circumstances' as opposed to what can't," he says.
Glenn, who started flying at sixteen years of age and achieved his captaincy in a Blackhawk (He's pictured above flying a Blackhawk in November 1992), has now left the full time army. When he's not flying in the active Army reserve he works as a charter pilot at Austrek Air Charter flying fix wing aircraft based in Toowoomba.
Glenn is also a qualified flying instructor at working part-time for the Darling Downs Aero Club. He's married to Michelle, with two children Mickaela, 9, and Jesse, 8.
He said he joined the Helifirst project because he wanted to help Sam achieve his dream. "I know from personal experience the value of a strong team around you to support unique undertakings," he said.
" I am also fortunate to have connections with the Australasian Society of Aerospace Medicine through my honorary life membership. Because of my own experience of returning to flying with a disability, I knew that medical certification to fly was going to be a key issue for Sam.
"I also like a challenge, and Sam has presented an ideal opportunity for me to use my aviation experience with a disability to help him achieve his goals!"
Glenn Todhunter with one of the planes, a Cessna Grande Caravan, which he flies regularly for Austrek Air Charter based in Toowoomba.
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Head Over Heels a best seller!! Read an extract from the book.
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TESTIMONAL |
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"As a recent high school graduate and a ridiculously fussy reader, I stumbled across your book in our bookshelf (I was supposed to be cleaning my room!!). Your humble determination and courage in overcoming adversity is truly inspirational in conquering all of life's problems - great and small. The book was that great I even took it to schoolies week!" - Melanie McKinnis
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JEN'S GALLERY |
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