Last year, Milos Stankovic completed his paramotoring course with us in Spain. On his journey home on his motorbike, he suffered a terrible accident that cost him his left arm and very nearly his life.
Milos's story was recently featured by BBC News as the former Parachute Regiment officer has become the first person in the UK to be fitted with a pioneering new type of bionic upper arm developed by Open Bionics. We're looking forward to working with Milos again to help him return to the activities he loves, including paramotoring and paragliding.
Photo above: Milos after his amputation
The plan is for Milos to join me in Chamonix this winter for some tandem paragliding. This will give us an opportunity to explore how his new arm works and begin assessing whether any adaptations are necessary before he can go solo. No doubt there will be lots to learn and some practical challenges to work through, but I'm confident he will be back in the air on his own in the not too distant future.
Photo above: Milos with his new bionic arm
In 2014, I taught a group of wounded, injured and sick service personnel to fly paratrikes in Spain before leading them on the Flying for Heroes expedition along Kenya's Rift Valley. It was an extraordinary experience, and one that taught me a great deal about adapting training and equipment to individual needs. I really enjoy these projects: they're challenging, but it's hugely rewarding to see people achieve something they've been told isn't possible.
Photo above: Milos celebrating the successful end of the course with the other students in June 2025 only a few days before the accident
Where there's a will, there's a way, and knowing Milos's character and his determination, I have no doubt he'll succeed. So, watch this space for updates as we work together to help Milos return to the skies.
