Matthew Monaghan has always found it difficult to lead a normal life but it has never stopped him from reaching for the skies.
The 35-year-old from Newtownabbey was born with a rare form of muscular dystrophy and has spent most of his life trying to overcome every obstacle his condition has thrown at him from learning to walk, driving a car and going to a mainstream school where he achieved three A-levels.
Now he's preparing for another major milestone later this week when he plans to become the first disabled pilot with muscular dystrophy to fly and land at Belfast International Airport in a light aircraft, alongside commercial jets.
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He told Belfast Live: "I was born with muscular dystrophy and the doctors told my family from an early age not to expect too much and that I would never walk. I started walking at the age of three and I was finally diagnosed with muscular dystrophy two years later. After that it was a battle to get into a normal school and then find a driving instructor who was willing to teach me as they were all too scared.
"Despite this, I have spent my life pushing myself to overcome the challenges that came with my condition. I also have parents who also refuse to take no for an answer. They have always pushed me to be independent and go as far as I possibly could so I've grown up with that same mentality."
In 2017, defying expectations once again and shocking his doctors, Matthew earned his private pilot’s licence. His first Christmas present as a toddler was a toy jumbo jet with red turbine engines. Being interested in aviation, he played with the idea of learning to fly, but discounted it because of his health condition.
That was until he found out about the Flying Scholarships for Disabled People (FSDP). Seeing happy people, with obvious physical limitations, pictured next to their aircraft, encouraged Matthew to submit his application. That was eight years ago and today Matthew is giving back to new FSDP scholars, as a mentor.
Matthew says he was in a very low place emotionally and physically when he first applied for the scholarship: "To my shock I was offered the chance to attend the selection centre at RAF College Cranwell. I had never travelled alone to another country but I took the brave step of booking a flight and hiring a car to travel to England purely because the chance of learning to fly was one I couldn’t let pass me by.
“I arrived feeling very nervous, anxious and embarrassed as a young man walking in with an obvious physical disability. But everyone was so welcoming and my anxiety and nerves faded - I had never in my life felt so ‘normal’. The whole experience taught me that disability is just a noun, not a life sentence.
“Now, I fly out of Ulster Flying Club in Newtownards and I am about to achieve another major milestone and a lifelong dream. I am set to become the first disabled pilot with muscular dystrophy to fly and land at Belfast International Airport in a light aircraft, operating amongst commercial jets.
"I only started flying from Northern Ireland this year as up until now it has all been in England due to the lack of knowledge and support here. The UFC has been incredibly supportive in terms of getting me the necessary modifications to fly a plane and make this happen.
"It's taken some time to get to this point but now it feels incredible that I can achieve this. For me, this moment represents not just a personal achievement, but also a message to others that no matter the obstacles, dreams can take flight.
“I use a rollator day to day to get about and have been documenting my journey to this point on social media. I believe my journey can inspire others in the community who face adversity, showing that limitations can be challenged and sometimes even broken. I also want to credit my friend Ryan Guy who has helped me get stronger by training me in the gym. It’s just a little extra bit of my journey that was never thought possible."
Matthew added: "Being able to fly free from the shackles of my disability has shown that no matter what problems I have, I'm still capable of doing something amazing. I may not be able to run, or ride a bike like other able bodied people but how many of them can say they have flown a plane!"
You can follow Matthew's journey on Instagram and TikTok.
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