A HULL drilling firm is piecing together what could be a revolutionary development in aviation.
Condor Projects Ltd is part of a major project aimed at improving opportunities for people with disabilities to become pilots.
The firm, in West Dock Avenue, is working with Pocklington-based Speight Engineering and universities from across Europe to develop a plane cockpit with disabled access.
Ady Palker, an engineer at Condor, is leading the pioneering project.
"We are attempting something that has never been done before anywhere in the world," he said.
"Putting together a plane with disabled access to the cockpit of a plane is unique.
"It's been hard work but it is a credit to all of the universities involved."
The cockpit features a specially designed ramp to allow wheelchair access directly to the plane's controls.
As well as improving access, the designs include controls that can be operated solely by hand.
Almost 40 students, from countries such as Italy, Croatia and Hungary, have taken part in the initiative.
The idea of the specialised plane was born when friends Martyn Wiseman, owner of Condor, and Dean Speight, owner of Speight Engineering, were shocked at the lack of provisions available for disabled pilots.
Both are qualified pilots and came up with the idea when a close friend was left disabled after a stroke.
"We did a lot of searching the internet to see whether this had been attempted before and we were shocked to see that it hadn't," he said.
"We have a lot of friends with disabilities, so we wanted to develop something that would help them get into a plane.
"The only way at the minute for disabled pilots is to use a sling to lift them into the cockpit, which is quite undignified."
The idea of the project was tabled in February and, after more than £22,000 of investment, the team will present the first prototype model in London tomorrow.
Condor and Speight have been working closely with City University London to develop the prototype.
Students and professors at the university have produced computer-aided designs for the project and have travelled Speight's warehouse in Pocklington to put their detailed plans into action.
Matthew Read, a fellow at the university, said: "When we were approached by Condor, we were very excited about being part of the project.
"It was an opportunity for students to get first-hand experience of practical engineering."
If the model is approved, the team hope to fly the plane for the first time in the summer of 2015.
