Helen Keller was a great woman who overcame the challenges of being blind and deaf to become a renowned author, educator, and activist. She was also adventurous and enjoyed traveling, swimming, tobogganing, and flying. Helen Keller did fly a plane, not once, but twice in her Life. How did she manage to do that?
In today’s article, we will know did helen keller fly a plane or not.
Did Helen Keller fly a Plane?
Helen Keller’s first flight occurred in 1919 when she was 39. She was invited to participate in a biographical film about her life called Deliverance, which aimed to show her achievements and abilities to the skeptical public.
The film’s producers wanted to include a scene of her flying in an airplane, which was still a new and exciting technology. Keller agreed to do it, even though she knew it was unrealistic or relevant to her life story. She saw it as an opportunity to experience something new and thrilling.
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The Curtiss Airplane Company arranged the flight, which provided a biplane and a pilot named Frank Coffyn. Keller and her Teacher and companion, Anne Sullivan Macy, boarded the plane at North Island in San Diego, California. Keller sat behind the pilot while Macy sat in front of him.
The plane took off and flew over the city and the bay for about half an hour. Keller later described the flight in her autobiography:
I felt like riding on a massive bird with outstretched wings that soared and dipped through space. The air rushed past me with a roar like that of Niagara Falls. I could feel the pressure on my face and hands. It pushed me back into my seat, making breathing difficult. I had a sensation of speed as I had never known. I felt the plane rise, fall, turn, and tilt, but I had no fear. Also, I trusted the skill of the pilot and enjoyed the incredible motion.
Keller also said she could sense the engine’s vibrations through her body and communicate with the pilot by placing her hand on his shoulder and feeling his movements. She said he signaled to her when they were going up or down or about to land. She also claimed that he let her take control of the plane for a few moments, which she found exhilarating.
The flight was filmed and included in Deliverance, released later that year. The film also showed scenes of Keller swimming, dressing, sleeping, reading Braille, writing, typing, playing chess, and meeting famous people. The film was intended to inspire and educate the public about Keller’s Life and achievements, but it also faced criticism for being unrealistic, sensationalized, and exploitative.
Did Helen Keller fly a Plane?
Helen Keller’s second flight happened in 1946 when she was 66. She traveled from Rome to Paris on a four-engine Douglas Skymaster airplane with her companion Polly Thomson. Thomson was Keller’s secretary and interpreter after Macy died in 1936. Thomson communicated with Keller by spelling words into her hand using a form of tactile sign language.
During the flight over the Mediterranean Sea, the plane’s crew invited Keller to sit in the co-pilot’s seat and try flying the plane herself. Thomson relayed the pilot’s instructions to Keller through hand signs, and Keller followed them carefully.
She held the controls and felt the plane’s movements through her hands and feet. She flew the plane for about 20 minutes without any problems. The crew was amazed by her sensitive touch and steady plane handling.
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Keller later wrote about this flight in a letter to her friend Nella Braddy Henney:
I enjoyed controlling the aircraft and feeling its subtle movements.; how it responded instantly to my touch; how it rose when I pulled back on the wheel; how it dipped when I pushed forward; how it banked when I turned it slightly; how it leveled off when I straightened it; how smoothly it glided through space.
She also said that flying gave her a sense of freedom and joy that she had never felt before.
Other Adventures:
She learned to swim and dive in the ocean with a rope around her waist, tied to a stake on the shore. Also, she enjoyed tobogganing down steep slopes in New England.
She traveled to 35 countries worldwide, visiting places like Japan, Egypt, India, and South Africa. Also, she met many famous people, such as Charlie Chaplin, Mark Twain, Mahatma Gandhi, and Winston Churchill. Also, she witnessed historical events, such as the end of World War I and the rise of fascism in Europe.
She campaigned for various social causes, such as women’s suffrage, labor rights, world peace, and disability rights. Also, she joined the Socialist Party of America and was a founding American Civil Liberties Union member. She wrote 14 books, hundreds of speeches, and essays on various topics.
She learned to play chess and checkers and even beat some of her opponents. She also learned to knit, crochet, and beadwork. She loved animals and had several pets, including dogs, cats, birds, and monkeys.
She received many honors and awards for her achievements, such as honorary degrees from Harvard University and Temple University, and the French Legion of Honor.
Helen Keller’s Life was indeed a life of adventure. She once said: \”Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.\” She lived by this motto and inspired millions with courage, curiosity, and intelligence.
Helen Keller Career
Helen Keller was not only a remarkable person who overcame her disabilities but also a successful and influential career woman who made significant contributions to various fields and causes. She was an author, an educator, an activist, and a co-founder of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). She used her fame and skills to advocate for the rights and dignity of people with disabilities, women, workers, and peace.
As an author, Keller wrote 14 books, such as her autobiography, The Story of My Life (1903), which was translated into 50 languages and adapted into a play and a film, The World I Live In (1908), which described her perception of the world through her senses; Optimism (1903), which expressed her philosophy of Life; The Open Door (1957), which collected her articles on social issues; and Teacher (1955), which paid tribute to her mentor Anne Sullivan.
She also wrote for magazines such as Ladies Home Journal, The Century, McClure’s, and The Atlantic Monthly. She received many honors and awards for her literary work, such as honorary degrees from Harvard University and Temple University, the French Legion of Honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.
As an educator, Keller taught people with disabilities how to communicate and live independently. She also educated the public about the abilities and potential of people with disabilities. From 1924 to 1968, she was employed at the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), where she held various roles, including counselor, fundraiser, and spokesperson.
During her travels, she visited schools, institutions, and organizations for the blind and deaf in 35 countries worldwide and toured the United States.
She also met with many political leaders, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Nikita Khrushchev. She inspired millions of people with her courage, intelligence, and charisma.
As an activist, Keller campaigned for various social causes that she believed in. She joined the Socialist Party of America in 1909 and supported causes such as women’s suffrage, labor rights, anti-militarism, and world peace. Also, she was a founding member of the American Civil Liberties Union in 1920 and defended civil liberties and human rights.
She also supported causes such as the treatment of the handicapped, racial equality, birth control, animal welfare, and environmental protection. Also, she spoke at many rallies, marches, conferences, and conventions. She also wrote letters and petitions to influence public opinion and policy.
Helen Keller’s career was a remarkable achievement that demonstrated her talent, passion, and dedication. She was a pioneer in many fields and a leader in many movements. Also, she symbolized hope and courage for overcoming obstacles and helping others. She was one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century.
Helen Keller’s flights were remarkable feats that demonstrated her courage, curiosity, and intelligence. They also challenged the stereotypes and prejudices many people had about people with disabilities. They showed that people with disabilities could participate in impossible or dangerous activities and enjoy Life fully and creatively. Helen Keller’s flights were personal achievements and social statements that advocated for the rights and dignity of people with disabilities.
Other Adventures:
She learned to swim and dive in the ocean with a rope around her waist, tied to a stake on the shore. Also, she enjoyed tobogganing down steep slopes in New England.
She traveled to 35 countries worldwide, visiting places like Japan, Egypt, India, and South Africa. Also, she met many famous people, such as Charlie Chaplin, Mark Twain, Mahatma Gandhi, and Winston Churchill. Also, she witnessed historical events, such as the end of World War I and the rise of fascism in Europe.
She campaigned for various social causes, such as women’s suffrage, labor rights, world peace, and disability rights. Also, she joined the Socialist Party of America and was a founding American Civil Liberties Union member. She wrote 14 books, hundreds of speeches, and essays on various topics.
Also, she learned to play chess and checkers and even beat some of her opponents. Also, she learned to knit, crochet, and beadwork. She loved animals and had several pets, including dogs, cats, birds, and monkeys.
Also, she received many honors and awards for her achievements, such as honorary degrees from Harvard University and Temple University, and the French Legion of Honor.
Helen Keller’s Life was indeed a life of adventure. She said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” She lived by this motto and inspired millions with courage, curiosity, and intelligence.
Conclusion:
Helen Keller’s flights were remarkable feats that demonstrated her courage, curiosity, and intelligence. They also challenged the stereotypes and prejudices many people had about people with disabilities.
They showed that people with disabilities could participate in impossible or dangerous activities and enjoy Life fully and creatively. Helen Keller’s flights were personal achievements and social statements that advocated for the rights and dignity of people with disabilities.
In this article, you read that Did Helen Keller Fly a Plane!!
