Jessica Cox  - World's first armless pilot 

Jessica Cox's Background 

Jessica Cox was born on February 2, 1983, in Arizona, USA, without arms due to a rare birth condition. From a very young age, her life invited questions the world often asks in quiet or aloud: What is possible? What is not? Who decides? 

Raised by parents who encouraged independence rather than protection, Jessica learned early on that she did not need to be “fixed” to live fully. She chose not to use prosthetic arms after the age of 14 and instead trained her feet to do what most people do with their hands—writing, driving, typing, eating, and even putting in contact lenses.

She went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Arizona, laying the foundation for the deeper work she would later do—helping people understand the mind, identity, and self-belief.

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Turning a Limitation into a Strength 

Jessica did not see the absence of arms as something to compensate for—she saw it as something to work with. 

In 2008, after three years of flight training, she became the world’s first licensed armless pilot, flying an Ercoupe aircraft uniquely suited for foot-based control. With one foot operating the yoke and the other managing the throttle, Jessica took to the skies—literally redefining what was believed to be possible.

But flying was only one expression of her strength.

• She became a black belt in Taekwondo, adapting traditional techniques with grace and precision

• A certified scuba diver

• A long-distance cyclist

• A global motivational speaker who has shared her story in over 26 countries

• The subject of the award-winning documentary Right Footed, which chronicles her life, advocacy, and humanitarian work

Jessica founded Rightfooted Foundation International, carrying a powerful mission across the world: “Disability does not mean inability.” Rather than trying to fit into systems not built for her, she helped reshape systems—with courage, creativity, and compassion.

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Message from Jessica Cox's Life

Jessica Cox’s life offers a message that goes far beyond physical disability. 

It speaks to every human limitation—fear, doubt, comparison, self-judgment, and the invisible walls we build around ourselves. Her story teaches us 

• Limitations are not always removed - they can be re-interpreted 

• Strength emereges when we stop fighting who we are and start working with who we are 

• The world expands when inner belief shifts 

• What feels like a disadvantage can become a unique capability 

 Jessica often shares that her greatest freedom came not from flying an airplane—but from accepting herself fully. Her journey reminds us that growth does not come from forcing ourselves into someone else’s definition of “normal,” but from creating an environment—internal and external—where we are allowed to thrive.

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The FullerSelf Reflection

At FullerSelf, we deeply resonate with Jessica Cox's life's philiosophy. 

"Growth is not about becoming something else. It is about becoming more fully who you already are"

When limitation is physical, emotional, psychological, or circumstancial - change begins when perception shifts. Jessica Cox did not wait for the world to change. She changed the way she saw herself—and the world followed.