left leg amputation/ still able to fly CL?

[Richard Grogan]

Hello fellow flyers,
I went through a left leg above knee amputation las april 24th and in the process of learning to walk again. Have any of you, or know anyone going/been through/ this type of change and still be able to fly cl? I can walk a bit, a little ugly still, without a cane. Working on balance, which is the hardest part, my club has issued an exstension for me to reserve my membership. I don't know anyone who has gone through  this, but hopefully will be able to overcome this. It is not easy to walk just yet, but getting better. I hope I can still turn in circles soon. I can still fly rc, so I'm not totally ruined!!I am a musician and having a hard time performing standing up. I know all about the special chair they make for cl, but would prefer flying standing like I am use to flying the pattern.. I am using the Nintendo Wii balance board with programs to help with my balance using several programs that seem to help. My therapy rehab uses something similar that runs about 2400 bucks on their rig, per visit. I hope I can still get me back in the circle....

[goozgog]

Good morning Richard,
                             
   Yes! One of our Balsa Beavers members
lost a leg in a motorcycle accident several
years ago. He's probably about 55 now.
I'll keep his name private.
  I flew against the man for four seasons
before , (one very hot day) I discovered he
has a prosthetic. He walks normally.
   I don't know if it's above the knee or not,
but it looks high up.
   I can usually beat him in CLPA but I'm
not as proud of it as I used to be. 
 :-)

   I've also seen someone fly sitting on
an office chair with a helper turning it.

   Hang tough Richard and please give
us a full report when you get back in
the circle.

Cheers! - K.

[Dave_Trible]

Our club president here lost both legs in a work accident years ago.  He flies pretty well and enters local contests.  He's now closing in on 70.  He's not let it slow him down much!

Dave

[John Park]

Quite a number of years ago, probably the 1970s, an Englishman called Arthur Eves competed in C/L aerobatics to a high standard while wheelchair-bound, with a helper to manoeuvre the chair for him.  I believe he later flew unaided with two artificial legs.  I've never met him or seen him fly, just read about him in AeroModeller: perhaps somebody better informed can tell you more.

Regards
John

[Massimo Rimoldi]

Quite a number of years ago, probably the 1970s, an Englishman called Arthur Eves competed in C/L aerobatics to a high standard while wheelchair-bound, with a helper to manoeuvre the chair for him.  I believe he later flew unaided with two artificial legs.  I've never met him or seen him fly, just read about him in AeroModeller: perhaps somebody better informed can tell you more.

Regards
John

Good morning,
during the first half of the 80s I met  an English guy during a contest in Italy (can not remember the name), who had both legs amputated.
At the time he was flying without any help except that of its implants and a crutch.
Was not joking, calmly he piloted a model equipped with a Super Tigre .60 .....

Regards and goods flights , Massimo.

[Sean McEntee]

Renowned FFer Tom "Tommy T" Peadon flies and competes with a prosthetic leg.  CL will be well within your abilities! 

[Motorman]

Keep up your rehab, it makes all the difference.


MM

[Tim Wescott]

Richard:

So I was tempted to give you all sorts of encouragement (I'm going to leave in "never say die"), but cut it out.

Putting aside inspirational BS from someone with both legs, the next time you're in one of those expensive rehab visits, mention CL flying and walking backwards in a circle (or just backwards).  If the therapist is good they should be able to give you some pointers about when and how to learn what you need.

I suspect that when you're at the point where you're walking, you should practice walking backwards, and get an idea of how fast you can do it without falling on your butt -- you'll probably lose a few planes to not being able to run backwards fast enough, but is that different from when you were 20?

[John Leidle]

  One of the guys from California was up here a few years ago in a wheel chair & he whooped my buttocks in Classic.
                    John

[Fredvon4]

Richard

Yesterday I flew for first time since a very bad MC accident 2 years ago, leaving me with a rebuilt left leg and spine...long recovery and physical therapy

Not as dramatic as amputation and prosthetic, but real debilitating just the same

I am confident that as long as you have a prioritized set of goals you and work through the PT and training to be 99% functional again and get back to enjoying most of what you are driven by

Prayers and luck your way from my family

[Phil Krankowski]

While I do not know anyone who flies control line with an amputated leg...

I know a lady with two amputated legs who has a limp, but gets around just as well as anybody else her age.

I know a young man at church with his lower leg missing who plays soccer, and basketball.  He kicks the pants off me at both.

I briefly worked with a gentleman who was missing a lower leg.  He had no concerns on ladders, and unless he was wearing shorts you couldn't tell.

Talk to your PT therapists about this as it should be on your road map to a full recovery.

Phil

[Jim Oliver]

To all who need to be encouraged:

Read "Reach for the Sky", bio of Douglas Bader by Paul Brickhill (I think), WWII RAF pilot with no legs.

Regards,
Jim

[Tim Wescott]

Richard:

Just remember that we're behind you all the way.  At least until you start outflying us -- then it'll be time for 5-minute epoxy in your left knee joint.

[john e. holliday]

Well Dave knows Jim Piscetto who flies in our area.  He has been to Tuscon to fly Classic.  He lost his leg in a railroad accident, but to watch him you would never know it.  He also out flies me doing the pattern.   He is also quite a gentleman when he threatens to kick with his wooden leg. 

[Phil Spillman]

Hi Richard, What is most evident from all the preceding is that determination and grit will get you to wherever YOU want to go! I have had both knees replaced and still enjoy Goodyear Racing at Brodak's FlyIn! I am almost 78 but the most inspiring story I've ever been privy to has been and continues to be that of Douglas Badder of the RAF during WWII. Unfortunately during an auto racing accident he lost both legs. Previously he had been an accomplished pilot and hence wanted to get back into the fray during the early days of the Second World War. By guts and will he regained his fighter command leadership and became an ACE flying Spitfires during the Battle of Britton! He was eventually shot down and captured by the Germans. By special arrangement the Germans permitted a plane to fly over from home and drop him a replacement leg since one of  his original man made legs had been lost while he was bailing out over the English Channel! He got his missing limb back and continued to attempt to escape during the balance of the conflict!

Therefore you will be back flying again most likely better than before with determination and will to attain your full potential!   

[John Park]

Good morning,
during the first half of the 80s I met  an English guy during a contest in Italy (can not remember the name), who had both legs amputated.
At the time he was flying without any help except that of its implants and a crutch.
Was not joking, calmly he piloted a model equipped with a Super Tigre .60 .....

Regards and goods flights , Massimo.

I'm sure that must have been Arthur Eves - like Bader, one of those people who don't let anything stop them doing what they want to do.  Inspiring.

[Don Chandler]

A number of years ago we had C/L meets in Modesto, CA. and there was a wheel chair bound flyer that flew very very well from that chair.

You'll do great!

[john e. holliday]

How many remember Carl Shoup flying at VSC one year from a wheel chair.  He stated later once he left the chair behind, the problem was getting his balance.  How ell I know that feeling the first time I tried to stand up after my motor cycle accident and being off my feet for several months.

[Fredvon4]

Doc

I had almost forgot that part of my MC accident recovery
On a Neurology re-visit I mention the vertigo just standing up, and the Surgeon laughed and said it was normal...I had scrambled the fluid in my inner ear...gave me a pamphlet on re-establishing the fluid all into one coherent blob

Basically laying flat on a bed with head bent back over side.... ... relax for 5 min nose up
Turn head left or right to full ability and hold for 5 min...back to center for 5, then opposite side for 5

Roll over and head nose down and replete sequence

Two session of this 6 hours apart cured my stand up vertigo

[NED-088]

I'm sure that must have been Arthur Eves - like Bader, one of those people who don't let anything stop them doing what they want to do.  Inspiring.

I still have fond memories of Arthur, unfortunately he passed away some years ago.
He used to come over to the continent fairly often during the early 1980-ies.
I'l never forget that time we were in Genk, Belgium at a F2B contest, and a coldfront pushing in very quickly, driving out the tropical temperatures.
The sky went pitch black spawning heavy lightning and thunder. You couldn't see a 100 ft. for the torential rain.
Most of us fled into the lounge/restaurant of the Zwartberg airfield. There was hardly an empty chair, so Arthur decided to get some from the outside terrace.
He came in again -soaked to the bone-, carrying some chairs, while grinning from ear to ear...
Some of us showed their concern about him going out, while the lighting had struck nearby several times.
Arthur never stopped smiling and replied, while pulling up the legs of his jeans: 'No, you shouldn't go out, but you see, I'm insulated....'

He even turned up at the 25th anniversary contest of my club, Deadalus Amsterdam.
Entering the class for 'CL flying something'.
He had taken one of his old legs, fixed a wing and a stab of some stunter that was beyond repair to it.
Up front -under the sole of the foot- a radially mounted ST 60....
'Of course' -as Arthur would have said- it DID fly!
We still miss him today

Bruno

[Dallas Hanna]

Quite a number of years ago, probably the 1970s, an Englishman called Arthur Eves competed in C/L aerobatics to a high standard while wheelchair-bound, with a helper to manoeuvre the chair for him.  I believe he later flew unaided with two artificial legs.  I've never met him or seen him fly, just read about him in AeroModeller: perhaps somebody better informed can tell you more.

Regards
John

Arthur was a true gentleman John.  I met him back in 1976 at an airfield where a local group was flying somewhere around Bedford but don't ask me where!  As Bruno has said, it was a sad loss when Arthur passed away.  He was an inspiration to everyone who "think" they have a handicap.

HH

[Richard Grogan]

Thanks so much for the encouragement and stories! I don't feel quite so alone in this mess. It has almost been a year, and everyday is so different. No two days are similar. Sometimes I just want to cover my head and wish it was a bad dream. Sometimes I get up, put on a liner and leg and go shopping at Lowes or Home Depot and just push a basket around for an hour or two. They say it takes at least a year to establish some form of normalcy and balance, thats coming very soon. Maybe one day in the near future I will go out with Dee and see what I can tear up!lol Thanks again for the encouraging words!
update:OUCH!!
I had a good one last nite. I played a show at a club from 8-12. I always carry a wheelchair with fold back arm rest. After the show, feeling all confident, I decided to roll the empty wheelchair to the truck to load out. BAD IDEA! I got about 50' or so, and lost balance with the chair taking off! Went down on right side and lost it. Down I went and today I feel like I cracked my right thigh. No bruising but going in in the morning for x-rays to see why it hurts like heII. I've done this stunt in the house once before, but ended up being nothing, and pain subsided after 3 days. Not the same as pushing a shopping cart. Seems the wneelchair has bettter bearing for this stunt. Should of had a fat lady sitting for the ride keeping me loaded....

[Richard Grogan]

see "OUCH" above...

[john e. holliday]

Start taking better care of your self.  I've been lucky in the falls I've taken lately have not put me down.  Gallon can of kerosene has the top crushed in where I went down in the shop.  Lucky I didn't land on the planes I have on the floor.

[Dennis Moritz]

Physical therapy can do wonders. Working on balance and coordination.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Richard Grogan]

Thanks so much for the advice and encouragement fellows! It means a lot to me. I am thinking about putting a hook on a rotating swivel (on a Hot Rock) from a overhead beam to practice the counter clockwise rotation. I am stepping into(leading) counterclockwise prosthetic leg and need to build a cadence routine in that direction.keeping the gait spacing even. Alot harder than it sounds, but I'm not giving up. Thanks a bunch guys!

[john e. holliday]

Richard I'm glad you are staying with it.  At my age with the knee problems and having ear surgery, I find myself off balance.  Especially when I go fly.  The rough ground does not help, but after a few laps I stop doing laps to do an 8 or loop and the Ringmaster tries to pull me out of the circle.  After the first flight is done I'm okay.  But, I do inverted laps, 8's and loops.   Been working on the reverse wingover as that is the one giving me most trouble.  I was blessed I think that the doctors didn't go a head and remove my right leg.  It was a mess, but a great surgeon did the reconstruction of it.   So don't give up on us and if we meet I will try not to kick your good leg.  By the way, do you watch Dancing With the Stars.  They had a young lady who lost both legs and could dance up a storm.