World's First Licensed Armless Pilot, world record set by Jessica Cox

October 28, 2025

Oro Valley, Arizona, United States--Jessica Cox, who was born without arms due to a rare birth defect. earned her Sport Pilot certificate flying a light-sport aircraft by using her feet to control the plane, thus setting the world record for being the World's First Licensed Armless Pilot, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

Photos: Facebook/Jessica Cox

"Jessica Cox's world record is for being the first armless person in the world to become a certified pilot. She earned her Sport Pilot certificate in 2008, flying a light-sport aircraft by using her feet to control the plane. (AI Overview)

"This record is also recognized as the first woman to fly an airplane with her feet by Guinness World Records

Achievement: Certified pilot, licensed to fly a light-sport aircraft using only her feet.
Award: Guinness World Record for being the first armless person in the world to earn a pilot's license.
Timeline: She earned her Sport Pilot certificate in October 2008.
Vehicle: She flies a 1946 ERCO Ercoupe, a light-sport aircraft.
Method: She operates the controls with her feet, including the yoke and throttle

"The first woman to fly an airplane with her feet is Jessica Cox (b. 2 February 1983, USA), who was able to gain her pilot's licence on 10 October 2008 in spite of being born without arms. Jessica holds a Sport Pilot certificate, which qualifies her to fly a light-sport aircraft to altitudes of 10,000 feet," the Guinness World Records says.

"Flying an Ercoupe, a plane manufactured in the mid-1940s compatible with her abilities, Jessica mans the controls with one foot and delicately guides the steering column with the other. Jessica, a University of Arizona graduate, is a motivational speaker."

"Jessica Cox (born February 2, 1983) is the world's first licensed armless pilot, as well as the first armless black-belt in the American Taekwondo Association. She was born without arms due to a rare birth defect.

"Cox has not used prosthetic arms since she turned 14. Using her feet as most people use their hands, she is able, among other things, to drive an unmodified car with an unrestricted license, to type on a keyboard at 25 words per minute, to pump her own gas, and to put in and remove her contact lenses. She is also a certified scuba diver.

"Jessica Cox flew in a single engine airplane for the first time via Wright Flight in 2004. Jessica earned her pilot's certificate on October 10, 2008 after three years of training and is qualified to fly a light-sport aircraft to altitudes of 10,000 feet. She received her flight training through an Able Flight scholarship and soloed under the instruction of Parrish Traweek." (Wikipedia)

"Jessica Cox flew in a single engine airplane for the first time via Wright Flight in 2004. Jessica earned her pilot's certificate on October 10, 2008 after three years of training and is qualified to fly a light-sport aircraft to altitudes of 10,000 feet. She received her flight training through an Able Flight scholarship and soloed under the instruction of Parrish Traweek.

"Cox's Sport Pilot Certificate is for an ERCO 415-C Ercoupe, which the Federal Aviation Administration has designated a light sport aircraft. Designed in the 1940s, the Ercoupe was built without rudder pedals. Instead, the rudder is interconnected with the ailerons through the yoke. This unique design allows Cox to control the airplane with one foot controlling the yoke while the other foot controls the throttle.

"The patented invention of a "Lower Extremity Vehicle Navigation Control System," which allows people to drive a car without the use of their upper body, by the Emirati engineer Reem Al Marzouqi was inspired by Cox." (Wikipedia)

"Adaptability has defined Jessica Cox’s life from the very beginning. Even as an infant, her mother would place toys in her crib, handing them to her feet. Refusing to see herself as different, she mastered everyday tasks with her feet and continually defied expectations," Jessica Cox's website says.

"Her lifetime of adapting led her to become a fourth-degree black belt in Taekwondo and the world's first licensed armless pilot in history. Jessica’s journey, from dreaming of flying on the playground to achieving extraordinary feats, epitomizes the limitless potential of an adaptable mindset.

"Beyond her groundbreaking achievement as a pilot, Jessica is also a sought-after motivational speaker, empowering audiences with her uplifting message of adapting with agility and future-proofing your mindset. Through her speaking engagements and media appearances, Jessica continues to catalyze positive change on a global scale."

"Jessica Cox is the world's first licensed armless pilot, earning her Sport Pilot Certificate in 2008. Born without arms, she learned to fly an ERCO 415-C Ercoupe by using her feet to control the aircraft, with one foot on the yoke for steering and the other on the throttle. (AI Overview)

"Cox's flight is a testament to overcoming limitations and has been recognized by a Guinness World Record."

Certification: Cox earned her Sport Pilot Certificate on October 10, 2008.
Flight controls: She maneuvers the plane with her feet. One foot operates the yoke for steering, while the other controls the throttle.
Aircraft: She flies an Ercoupe, a light aircraft designed without rudder pedals, which made it possible for her to fly with her feet.
Motivation: Cox became a pilot to overcome her fear of flying and now travels as a motivational speaker to inspire others to face their own fears and perceived limitations.
Other achievements: Besides flying, she also holds two black belts in Taekwondo and can drive a car, all using her feet

"The more I learned about aviation and aerodynamics, I realized I shouldn't be afraid. If you lose an engine, you just glide down to the ground and find somewhere to land—it's not like the plane falls out of the sky. Turbulence is going to happen.

"It's different when you're seeing all that has to come together to fly a plane, and to be there holding on to the controls. It's a very different position than being a passenger,: the Travel + Leisure says.

"I have a sport pilot certification to fly light sport aircraft, so I can take one passenger up to an altitude of 10,000 feet in the daylight. They call it the "$100 hamburger" because it means flying to a little neighboring airport, going in for breakfast, and then flying back."

"A motivational speaker, author, disability advocate, and philanthropist, Cox earned her light-sport pilot certificate in 2008, flying a 1946 ERCO Ercoupe. Built to go low and slow, the two-seat aircraft has ailerons interconnected with the rudder, which means disabled pilots can fly it with their feet off the floor using only the control yoke.

"Flying is far from her only accomplishment. When she was 14, Cox earned her first black belt from the International Taekwon-Do Federation. After graduating high school, she attended the University of Arizona, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology," the Aviation International News reports.

"At the university, Cox joined an ATA Martial Arts club (formerly known as the American Taekwondo Association) and became the first armless person to earn a black belt in the ATA."