Pilot For A Day Affords Child Opportunity to Learn about Aviation

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jamie L. Coggan
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Fulfilling one of his dreams, Jake McKay, a 12-year-old Tucsonan with Cystic Fibrosis, toured the base Nov. 13 to learn more about aviation as this month's Pilot for a Day.

The purpose of the program is to provide local children with illnesses an enjoyable day completely devoted to them and their interest in aviation. To make his day more special, Jake received his own flight suit, complete with a personalized name tag, to wear during the day.

Jake's host pilot was Capt. Eric "Heed" Theriault, an A-10 pilot assigned to the 357th Fighter Squadron. Accompanying Jake was his mom, Laura, dad, John, brothers, Dillon and Randy, and friend, Heather.

The group received a tour of the 358th Fighter Squadron, which included a visit to the life support section, to learn more about the gear the pilots wear when flying.

After that, they headed to the fire department where Staff Sgt. Noah Leiter, a firefighter, challenged Jake to put on all gear in under a minute like a real fireman. Jake won the challenge, donning his gear in 55 seconds. After being congratulated by the fire chief, he was taken out in one of the new fire trucks where he got to spray the fire hose.

Then Jake and his guests visited an A-10 static display where Jake sat in the cockpit and had the chance to ask their host pilot questions.

The group also visited the 79th Rescue Squadron's hangar to see an HC-130 static display, where Jake sat in the cockpit and toured the rest of the aircraft.

The next stop was the 55th Rescue Squadron, where Jake sat in the gunner's seat of an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter and pretended to shoot at enemies.

The group was treated to pizza at the 357th Fighter Squadron. After lunch they headed to the 355th Operations Support Squadron, where James experienced an A-10 simulator. The simulator replicates flying an aircraft over a virtual map as realistically as possible.

After that, Jake visited the control tower for a brief tour before heading home. While at the control tower he was presented with an "Honorary Air Traffic Controller" certificate and occupational badge.

The Pilot for a Day program originated at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, in 1994 and has since been implemented at several other Air Force bases.