Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 25, 1993 TAG: 9307230116
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: ROBERT RIVENBARK SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Six years later, he's designing an airplane he intends to build and fly to the Virgin Islands.
"You don't appreciate what a miraculous thing hands are until you lose them," he said. "You don't appreciate how wonderful life is until you've come as close as I did to losing it."
In 1987, Posada, a native of Cuba, was an engineering student at Virginia Tech, earning his tuition by putting up a fence around the Blacksburg airport.
To dig the post holes, Posada used a tractor to power a steel auger. The rig was similar to the larger diggers utility companies use, except Posada's rig didn't have a protective guard over the turning differential.
That difference proved tragic when Posada ventured too close to the differential, which snared the back of his nylon flight jacket, lifted him up, ripped off his jacket, arms, jeans and boots, and deposited him back on the ground.
A friend rushed him to Montgomery Regional Hospital. From there, he was flown to the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, where doctors labored to save his life - an effort made more challenging because Posada, a Jehovah's Witness, refused blood transfusions.
Posada, now 41, was a licensed pilot before he lost his arms. Since the accident, he has flown with the help of a co-pilot several times. Last year he decided to design and build a specially adapted airplane so he could fly solo to the Virgin Islands, one of his favorite spots.
He drew the first set of plans with a mechanical drawing pencil held in his teeth. They were a good start, but Posada needed more precise blueprints.
He contacted Autodesk Inc., a software developer in California, explained his situation, and asked the company to donate a computer-aided design software package. The company sent him its premier program free.
Posada taught himself to use the software and set to work on his final blueprints. For the past year, he's been using an IBM computer donated by the Independence Resource Center in Charlottesville, typing with his toes. He expects to take another year to complete his blueprints.
"I'll always be a slow typist, because my toes are so clumsy," he said. "Sometimes I get so frustrated with my slowness I want to kick the computer screen in. But I've learned to control my anger and develop patience. That's what will help me finish this project."
When Posada completes his design, he'll still face the problem of how to build the plane. He'll need a double-sized garage or a small warehouse to install the 20-foot molds to cast the fiberglass wings and body. He'll need a 350-cubic-inch, 400-horsepower Chevrolet car engine and hundreds of parts. He'll need a crew to cast the body mold and assemble the plane.
Even if he can get the money to build the plane, he'll still have to persuade the Federal Aviation Administration that his foot controls are safe.
"The FAA may keep me from flying this craft, even if I do manage to find the money to build it," he said. "But don't count on it."
Posada, who is single, attributes his optimism and willpower to his strong religious faith and the considerable support of his church and family. His parents live in Charlottesville.
He also has been helped by the state, his employer at the time of his accident. The state is paying workers compensation to Posada and the salary of a live-in companion who does the cooking and housework.
by CNB