When Chris Gschwendtner was airlifted to a field hospital after a rocket exploded next to him in Bagdad, no one could look ahead and see where he is today. The concussion of the explosion left the young infantryman with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the hidden injury so common to those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. For Chris, his injury was compounded by being the second TBI he had experienced in less than six weeks. After his injuries he made it his mission to continue serving his country by being a member of the U. S. Army Reserves, and to prove he can still excel as a student — this time in aviation. Studying doesn't come as easily for the recipient of two Purple Hearts as it did when he earned a degree from Penn State, so Chris simply works harder. That's how he became a Sport Pilot, and that's how he has now become a certified Light Sport Repairman. With tuition and expenses paid through his Able Flight Career Training Scholarship, Chris graduated with a 98 on his final exam at Rainbow Aviation in California, and within days was hired by the maintenance department at Chesapeake Sport Pilot near his home in Maryland. Continue Reading »

===> Posted on November 10th, 2011 by Janice Wood. No comments. © GAN 2011.