DBF Alumnus Stewart McQuillan - Douglas Bader Foundation

The onward journey of remarkable DBF Alumnus Stewart McQuillan has been brought to our attention by Sean D. McClung, Colonel, USAF, ret. We are very grateful to Colonel McClung for this fascinating and very inspiring update.

“I am writing to let you know of an early DBF alumnus (1997), who has achieved great things and is continuing to encourage and inspire disabled pilots. Stewart McQuillan, a former RAF Officer, Tornado GR1 engineer, and pilot, was injured in the line of duty in 1989 and became paraplegic.

Through DBF, he received his wings using hand controls in a fixed-wing aircraft. At the awards ceremony, he was challenged by King Hussein of Jordan to fly helicopters. This had never previously been done and Stewart, with help from the British Army Air Corps and Westland Helicopters, subsequently invented a device to allow paraplegics to fly helicopters. This was approved by the FAA as a medical device in 2001 and Stewart became the first paraplegic in the world to be certified to fly a helicopter. He has since incorporated the device in experimental helicopters to make it even easier for the wheelchair-bound to fly.” (Sean D. McClung, Colonel, USAF, ret)

It was heartwarming to learn how Stewart’s life has progressed since our contact with him 27 years ago!

The Aeroleg

Because flying a helicopter requires the use of both hand and foot controls, it had always been thought that it would be impossible for someone without the use of their legs to fly one. However, King Hussein of Jordan’s challenge to Stewart at the wings award ceremony would lead to the overturning of that assumption…

DBF Alumnus Stewart McQuillan — Stewart with King Hussein of Jordan at the wings award ceremony – a challenge is issued!

With help from the British Army Air Corps and Westland Helicopters, Stewart, who is also an electrical engineer, invented a device which would allow paraplegics to fly helicopters. The Aeroleg, is a thumb-controlled robotic leg that runs on a pneumatic system and is sufficiently fine-tuned to enable the subtlety of leg movements required to operate the sensitive controls safely. In 2001, the Aeroleg was approved as a medical device by the FAA and Stewart became the first paraplegic in the world to be certified to fly a helicopter. The fact that Stewart has since gone on to use his device to make it easier for other wheelchair users to fly seems typical of the man as you will learn from the rest of this post.

DBF Alumnus Stewart McQuillan

The Aeroleg, designed by Stewart, approved by the FAA in 2001 and now enabling pilots with disabilities to fly helicopters

DBF Alumnus Stewart McQuillan working on the helicopter from a Permobil Standing Chair

King has seen it all before…!

Stewart using a gantry with a transport sling to work on the top of the “World First” helicopter. As well as being the first person with paraplegia to fly a helicopter, Stewart is the first to build one. See the finished helicopter below.

(Link 1: You can learn more of Stewart’s inspiring story by following the 1st video link at the bottom of this post.)

The National Veterans Vocational Village (NV3) Foundation

In 2019, DBF Alumnus Stewart McQuillan established the National Veterans Vocational Village (NV3) Foundation. Sean McClung is the Co-Founder and CEO.

We are a community of Vets helping other Vets & First Responders to Heal, Grow, Strive & Achieve – NV3 Foundation Mission Statement

NV3 is a self-sustaining vocational training center that educates, employs, and empowers our Veterans from all services.

“Our continued mission is to build and provide a Village Community that will house disabled and injured veterans and those with invisible wounds, transitioning from military and first responder duties to civilian life.

The village provides a sense of community and esprit de corps, builds life-saving and lasting connections, and enables veterans to learn new skills or to relearn old ones in order to begin new, productive, rewarding careers.”

There are ambitious plans in store for the Village with the Ground Breaking Mission planned for 2025 to coincide with the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Awareness and fundraising activities for between 40 and 2000 acres of land will precede ground-breaking.

The developments are set out in 2 Phases.

Phase 1 (2025 -2027): Central to NV3 is a village of accessible housing to be made available for disabled veterans and those with invisible wounds. The NV3 village development is modeled after a European Village or a small US military installation. On the compound vocational training facilities are included, including a helipad for those who wish to fly again.
Phase 11 (2027 – 2028): The next phase of NV3 development is a larger assortment of housing, the expansion of educational / vocational offerings and recreational activities. Housing planned includes the following:

Community Life in a multi-residence (house apartments) complex
Cottage Homes
Subsidized and Affordable homes
Cottage Home development & RV Homes
Potentially Airpark homes for living and working
Senior, Assisted Living and Memory Care Facilities

Additional Facilities: Alongside the homes a wide range of facilities will be provided for Veterans: Community Services; Community Attractions and Community Recreation and Entertainment.

(Link 2: Check out the 2nd link beneath this post to see the comprehensive range of resources that will be available to the Veterans.)

This is an incredibly ambitious scheme and, of course, will require substantial funds to complete. Which is where Stewart with his admirable focus and dedication comes in again…

Fundraising –

WORLD’S FIRST PARAPLEGIC TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE THE GLOBE IN A HELICOPTER

Clearly not one to rest on his already impressive laurels, Stewart is now aiming to become the first person with paraplegia to circumnavigate the globe in a helicopter. Even more astonishly, a helicopter he built himself! This would be an extraordinary achievement and by doing it he hopes not only to raise substantial funds for the NV3 Foundation Project but to encourage and inspire other disabled pilots.

This tour will provide hope and inspiration for all persons with disabilities – Sean D. McClung, Colonel, USAF, ret. Co-founder and CEO NV3 Foundation

(Link 3: You will find information about Stewart’s challenge using Link 3 beneath this post.)

The Raptor Foundation

In a different but associated achievement, in 1989 prior to Stewart’s connection with the DBF, he established the Raptor Foundation in the UK for injured birds of prey, with his then wife, Liz. This strikes a chord with me as it seems that for people who love flying, that love transcends the human limitations. I remember Sir Douglas sitting in the garden of his house near Newbury, pipe in hand, peacefully watching birds, often the majestic birds of prey that used to frequent the skies over the fields and woodlands of Bucklebury, riding the thermals high above. Unable by then to fly himself, he got huge comfort and joy from watching flight in perhaps its purest form.

(Link 4: For more information on The Raptor Foundation use Link 4 beneath this post.)

***

It is a great pity that these 2 men with so much in common never got to meet. There’s no doubt that with their courage and determination never to be beaten (as well as their love of animals), they would have had a lot in common and a lot to talk about. They would undoubtedly have enjoyed each other. I know Sir Douglas would have been delighted to have been able to support and encourage Stewart at the start of what has been and continues to be a momentous adventure.

* We will be featuring DBF Alumnus Stewart McQuillan again shortly with a post which will focus on his “First Paraplegic to Circumnavigate the Globe in a Helicopter” Fundraising Challenge. The post willl include a discussion between Stewart and DBF CEO, David Bickers MBE, who last met at the start of Stewart’s journey back in 1997! It should be both fascinating and very inspiring.*

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