How Did Helen Keller Fly A Plane?

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How Did Helen Keller Fly A Plane?

Helen Keller, who was born in 1880 and lived most of her life in Tuscumbia, Alabama, lost her sight and hearing at the age of 19 after contracting a fever. She spent her early years fumbling around in the dark, dense fog that had built over her existence since she was deaf, blind, and mute.

Despite her intelligence, her relatives said she was a bit of a wild child and a handful to live with. Amazingly, Helen Keller, at the age of 19, had already created more than sixty hand signs to help her communicate and had learned to recognize others based on the vibrations their footfall made.

People are curious to know how did Helen Keller fly a plane and did she actually fly a plane. Here you will find all the answers.

How Did Helen Keller Fly A Plane?

Who Was Hellen Keller

Born on June 27, 1880, and passing away on June 1, 1968, Helen Adams Keller was an American novelist, activist, political lecturer, and advocate for the rights of the disabled. She was born in West Tuscumbia, Alabama, but at the age of 19 months she became ill and lost her vision and hearing.

Then, until she met her first teacher and lifelong friend Anne Sullivan at the age of seven, she relied mostly on house signals as her means of communication. Sullivan educated Keller in the English language and its writing and reading systems.

After attending both special education and regular schools, Keller enrolled in Radcliffe College, Harvard University, where she made history by becoming the first deafblind person to achieve a Bachelor of Arts degree.

From 1924 until 1968, Keller was employed by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). During that time, she visited 35 different countries to spread awareness about the plight of the visually impaired.

Did Helen Keller fly a Plane?

She ignored the warnings of her senses and sprang into the right seat of a four-engine Douglas C-54 Skymaster, a notable jet that anyone could fly. The pilot handed over control as he reached the Mediterranean coast, and Keller flew across the sea for 20 glorious minutes.

According to “Brilliant Helen Keller Flies an Aircraft,” an article published by the American Foundation for the Blind, Keller was given the option of piloting the plane via Tactical Sign Language correspondence with her friend Polly Thompson.

She may not have been able to hear the roar of the engine or see the beauty of the world from above, but she was still able to experience the incredible thrill of piloting a plane. Flying, Helen remarked, gave her a sense of freedom unlike any other experience.

You can tell that’s the pilot’s sprit talking. In June 1946, a plane flew across the Mediterranean Sea from Rome to Paris. Everything else about the flight was the same, except for the fact that for the last 20 minutes of the flight, one of the passengers acted as the pilot.

Dr. Helen Keller, an American author, educator, and rebel who had been deaf and mute since childhood, was the wanderer. Although most women of Keller’s age would never even consider flying, she was no stranger to the world stage.

In 1919, she took her first trip as a tourist thanks to the creation of Deliverance, a biographical picture in which she made a true appearance.

How Did Helen Keller Fly A Plane?

Helen Keller’s life was forever chaged when Anne Sullivan, a blind woman, entered Helen’s life. Sullivan’s plan was to help Keller reintegrate into society by training her to use touch as a means of expression.

It would be difficult, as the child would likely have frequent, potentially violent outbursts. After all, Keller was completely oblivious to the existence of language until that moment.

In April of 1887, Sullivan was able to make progress with Keller using what she called a strategy of patience, love, and obedience. Sullivan cooled the girl’s hands by flowing water through them while signing “W-A-T-E-R” into her palm.

She did this several times, and then, in a single profound epiphany, it all made sense. Keller was so elated that he burst. She motioned for “water” and then demanded to know the names of everything in the room. The gateway to the outside world was now open.

Helen Keller’s Stint As An Airplane Pilot Over The Mediterranean Sea

Throughout the annals of American history, Helen Keller ranks among the most well-known names. She became famous and a respected champion for individuals with similar issues after an illness left her permanently deaf, blind, and unable to talk before she turned two years old.

Even though she was born deaf and mute, she never allowed that stop her from trying new things that most hearing and speaking individuals would never ever think of doing. She even got behind the controls of an airplane for 20 minutes on a flight over the Mediterranean Sea in 1946.

Keller, an Alabama native who was born in 1880, lost her ability to see, speak, and hear as a toddler due to a severe disease. When she was seven years old, however, she met Annie Sullivan, who would go on to become her mentor and lifelong friend.

Learning to read and write from her teacher set her on the way to a BA in Liberal Arts from Radcliffe. Keller spent most of her adult life touring the world as an ambassador and lecturer for the American Foundation for the Blind.

The 14 books she penned and the countless lectures and essays she delivered are only the tip of the iceberg. Being an original member of the American Civil Liberties Union is one of her proudest moments (American Civil Liberties Union).

Conclusion

Helen Keller was 19 months old when she became deaf, blind, and mute due to an illness. Despite her challenges, she overcame them all to become a successful businesswoman. Keller learned to speak with the world and became an advocate for the rights of the disabled with the support of her instructor, Anne Sullivan.

Not only did Keller achieve a great deal in her life, but she also got to fly a plane, something that many other capable women never got the chance to do. Hope now you know how did Helen Keller fly a plane. 

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