Helen Keller’s Stint As An Airplane Pilot Over The Mediterranean Sea
The famous advocate enjoyed an improbable flight behind the controls
Few figures in American history are as widely known as Helen Keller. After an illness left her permanently deaf, blind, and unable to speak before she was two years old, her perseverance to learn how to communicate with others not only made her famous but also a respected advocate for those who had similar challenges. Despite being unable to see or hear, she never let that stop her from challenging herself with different experiences that many people who had hearing and speech would never attempt. This included flying an airplane, as during one flight in 1946 when she handled the controls for 20 minutes during a voyage over the Mediterranean Ocean.
Born in 1880 in Alabama, a significant illness as a toddler left Keller unable to see, speak or hear. However, at the age of seven she met Annie Sullivan, who became her longtime teacher and companion. Her instructor taught her to read and write, leading her on a path that culminated in a Bachelor of Arts college degree from Radcliffe College.
As an adult, Keller worked extensively as an advocate for the American Foundation for the Blind, traveling the world as an ambassador and educator. She also authored 14 books and…
