DATELINE ST. LOUIS, Mo.

After 4 years, 11 months and 2 weeks, N360TM made its first flight Nov 22, 2006 at Creve Coeur Airport. That flight was the culmination of a lifelong dream to build and fly my own airplane.

The First Flight

After pre-flighting the airplane with a fine tooth comb and reviewing the flight plan with the crew, I got in, buckled up and took a deep breath. The taxi to the end of the runway was slow and I was running all possible contingencies through my head. After doing my checklist, it was time to go. I punched the throttle and at 60 mph pulled back on the stick and lifted off smoothly into the spring-like weather. I wasn’t as excited as I thought I would be – just intensely concentrating on everything that was happening. Watching the engine instruments, listening to traffic and sensing how the plane was flying. I climbed quickly to 1,200 ft and circled the airport. Everything was great! The first flight was cut a little short because of a loose headphone jack that caused my radio to fade out. The first landing was smooth just like I had practiced with the Zenith prototype a couple of weeks earlier. I DID IT!!!

Test Flying

I took N360TM up again later that afternoon for another short flight doing 8 touch and go's. All landings were smooth and comfortable. She lifts off at 60 mph and accelerates to 100 very quickly and climbs very briskly (>1000 feet per minute). I have been flying the landing pattern at 80 mph decelerating to 75 then 70 or so at touchdown. The plane lands very nicely. The joy I felt overwhelmed me later in the afternoon after I relaxed. There was a huge rush of emotion and a few tears of joy. It is a feeling like I have never felt before.

I flew again Thanksgiving morning and then three times more in the next two days. I’ve had my plane up to 155 mph in a shallow dive and down to 44 mph on the slow end. It flies very comfortable. I must have built a straight plane because it doesn’t have any unbalance and I was able to trim it “hands off” on the 5th flight at cruise.

Press On

The test flying phase will continue until 40 hours are accumulated and the plane is proven safe. I am now officially a test pilot. I seem to remember saying when I was 5 or 6 that I wanted to be a test pilot. Dreams are powerful stuff.

Team COPAXONE^® (glatiramer acetate injection)

I am just one example of someone who is living with relapsing-remitting MS and pursuing my dreams. Established in 2000, Team COPAXONE® celebrates the accomplishments of people like me who refuse to let MS stand in their way. Team members are working hard to change the perceptions that society holds of people living with MS.

The days when the doctor sends people home and tells them to go to bed and prepare for a wheelchair are slowly disappearing. Today, a combination of healthy diet, exercise, medical management, and willpower are helping people like me pursue their dreams.