Up in the Air, Flight Instructor’s Speech Impediment Disappears
In the early 1920s, planes began using trailing banner advertisements as a way for businesses to promote their products and services more clearly and boldly. For Jonathan Smith, getting up in the air had always been a dream -- but he had no idea that once he achieved his goal, flying would allow him to communicate his message more clearly.
Smith suffers from a severe stuttering disorder, which he later learned would make it impossible for him to get his pilot's license. After reaching out to multiple flight schools in 2010, and being subsequently turned down by each one, Smith all but gave up on his aviator dreams.
"I became interested in flying as a kid, but was told time and time again that, due to my stuttering, I could never be a pilot," Smith said. "The stuttering made it very h...