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Jessica Cox

Motivational Speaker, "Possible Thinking" Business Consultant, Guinness World Record Holder

Jessica Cox inspires audiences to embrace resilience, adaptability, and self-empowerment. Her story demonstrates how to overcome limitations, shift mindsets, and turn obstacles into opportunities. Audiences will leave motivated to face their own challenges with confidence and a renewed belief in what’s truly possible.

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Bio

Born in 1983 in Sierra Vista, Arizona, Jessica has learned to live her life with her feet. There were many questions at the time about whether Jessica would be able to live a “normal” life. However, Jessica’s father has said he never shed a tear about her birth condition. He had full confidence in her potential. With the support of her parents and family, Jessica became confident in herself as an adult and continued to explore the world with her feet.

At the age of 14, Jessica earned her first black belt in the International Taekwondo Federation. After graduating from high school, Jessica attended the University of Arizona, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology. When talking about her degree, she frequently explains that psychology credits the way people think with having a greater impact on their lives than a physical limitation. During college, Jessica joined an ATA Martial Arts club and became the first armless person to earn a black belt in the ATA.

Jessica’s most famous accomplishment was learning how to fly. It took three states, four airplanes, three flight instructors, and three years to find the right aircraft: a 1946 415C Ercoupe Airplane. In 2008 Jessica earned her Light Sport Pilot Certificate. She received the Guinness World Record for being the first person certified to fly an airplane with only their feet in 2011.

In May 2012, Jessica married in the beautiful city of South Pasadena, CA. In the fall of that same year, Jessica became a Goodwill Ambassador for Humanity & Inclusion, a Nobel Peace Prize winning NGO, and advocated for disability rights in Ethiopia, the Philippines, Nepal, and the US Senate.

Flying continues to be a passion for Jessica as she attends many of the largest aviation events in the world. Along the way, she has been recognized for numerous awards, including Woman of the Year from the Tucson Hispanic Chamber, an honorary doctorate from Universidad Santander in 2023, and a distinguished speaker award from Egypt’s President at the World Youth Forum in 2019.

In 2019, a generous fan donated a 1946 415C Ercoupe with tail number N26R (“two-six-romeo”) for Jessica’s use. With an 85 horsepower engine, two seats for a pilot and a copilot/passenger, a cruising speed of around 90 miles per hour, and a flying time of a little over three hours, N26R is a fair-weather airplane designed primarily for local daytime flights. Because of the performance limitations, Jessica plans to build The Impossible Airplane, a 200 mph four-seat RV-10 airplane with custom controls for Jessica to use.

Keynotes

Featured Keynote

  • Think Outside the Shoe
  • Aviate, Navigate, Communicate

Topics

Jessica Cox Partners With Van's on RV-10 That Can Be Controlled By Feet

Jessica Cox, a pilot born without arms, will partner with Van's Aircraft to design an airplane that can be operated using only your feet, it was announced last week. “We are going to design a custom, retrofitted RV-10 to be flown with feet,” Cox said. Greg Hughes, Van's vice president and COO, says his company is up for the challenge.

“There Were A Lot Of Doubters” Woman Proves Everyone Wrong After Getting Her Pilot License

Achieving your goals and taking over the world would be quite easy. If only it wasn't raining today and this sofa wasn't so comfy, and that one teacher ten years ago hadn't told you that you would never do anything good with your life. Sounds depressing, right? Luckily, there are hundreds of inspiring people all over the world whose stories show us that nothing is impossible – all you have to do is dream big and be brave. Just like courageous Jessica Cox, who wouldn't let her disability stop her from soaring the skies as a licensed pilot.

Flying Feet First

FAA Podcast: Meet Jessica Cox, a sport pilot who was born without arms and mastered the skill of flying an airplane with her feet. What led her to this Guinness World Record-worthy feat was an opportunity to meet life's challenges and a hunger for independence. She shares details of the day she embarked on a path that would inspire others to venture into aviation.

Armless Pilot Celebrates ADA Anniversary in Flight

It's been nearly 30 years since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and retired Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) celebrated his landmark bill with “the most fun” event in his weekend of celebrations. He flew with Jessica Cox, the first certificated pilot without arms, in her Ercoupe at AOPA headquarters in Frederick, Maryland.

Jessica Cox: Can't is not in her vocabulary

The two things that stand out about Jessica Cox, well aside from the fact that she was born with no arms, is a strong sense of humour and her determination. The humour shines through in her t-shirt which says "Look Ma, no hands."

10 Best Pilots

If you want to feel like an underachiever, all you have to do is Google "Jessica Cox." Born without arms, the wildly personable 30 year old has learned to use her bare feet as most people use their hands.

Jessica Cox Was Born Without Arms, And She's Living A Life Without Limits

As children, we're told that we can do anything we put our minds to. “No dream is too big or too small,” people say. Even goals that seem well beyond reach are encouraged. “I want to be president!” “I want to fly!” “I want to be an astronaut!” But what do you tell a child born without any arms, who dreams of living a “normal” life? One where she can drive a car, fly an airplane, or do something as simple as tying a shoelace without assistance? As Jessica Cox proves, no dream is really too big or too small.

  • 2015 Disarm Your Limits
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