Elmendorf hosts honorary 'pilot for a day'

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jack Sanders
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Members of the 19th Fighter Squadron joined forces with the Make-a-Wish Foundation to host a special honorary "pilot for a day" Jan. 29.

Brendan Thompson, a 13-year-old Anchorage resident and Make a Wish recipient, was invited to tour Elmendorf and become pilot for a day. Brendan was invited to visit the base while the foundation processes his wish to be a paranormal investigator.

The Alaska branch of the Make a Wish Foundation grants around 25 wishes a year, said Elizabeth Ross, Brendan's Make-a-Wish representative. "The foundation is always looking for volunteers to help make a difference," said Ross.

"At a first glance Brendan seems like your average teenager ... well maybe a little taller than most 13 year olds," said Capt. Craig Van Beuskom, 19th FS pilot and Brendan's guide for the day.

Brendan has a rare and potentially fatal form of bone marrow cancer called Aplastic Anemia.

"It means his body doesn't make blood properly," said Brendan's mother Cristin Poole.

His condition is complicated by the fact that he has a rare blood type. Brendan's blood type is AA positive and he is in high need of blood donors of the same type.

Brendan began his day at the 19th FS where he donned a flight suit and squadron hat. The flight suit fit Brendan properly and, aside from missing rank insignias and combat boots, he was interchangeable with any pilot there.

The only person more excited than Brendan to be walking through an F-15 filled hanger was his little brother, Joshua Poole. "I'm so glad I'm not in school," Joshua said.

At the end of the hangar there was one F-15 sitting alone. As the group arrived at the jet no words were said, but Brendan's face worked its way into a large smile that remained for the rest of his day. The F-15 at the end of the hanger was Brendan's, complete with his name on the side.

"I can't believe they put his name on the side of the plane," said Poole.

Van Beuskom showed Brendan and Joshua the different parts of the aircraft explaining how the aircraft worked and what its purpose was and even let them sit in the cockpit.

After sitting in an F-15 cockpit how can a day get better? Van Beuskom's answer is to take a pilot's next step and make their way down to life support.

The group arrived at life support where Brendan was introduced to the Airmen there. The life support crew explained their job to Brendan and some of the equipment he would wear that day.

"The G-suit is designed so that when pilots are turning and pulling G's the blood wants to rush to their feet and the suit squeezes the blood back up into your brain so you don't pass out," Van Beuskom explained.

Although he appeared tired, there was an air of excitement about the young teen when he added the G-suit, survival vest and helmet to his pilot's ensemble.

"This stuff's kind of heavy," Brendan said after he finished putting on the last of his outfit. Not wanting to torture Brendan for the day the crew removed Brendan's gear before the group traveled to the next step on Brendan's tour, the air traffic control tower.

Brendan and his family buzzed around the tower from corner to corner, checking out the different views of the base and surrounding area. "Wow!" Joshua said as they looked off down the runways and at Anchorage in the distance.

After a while, the brothers shifted their interest toward the tower's purpose and the job of the air traffic controllers. Master Sgt. Brian Wheeler, 3rd Operations Support Squadron, air traffic control complex chief controller, explained the importance and complexity of how the tower works.

"I am responsible for the overall day-to-day operations pertaining to air traffic control at Elmendorf," said Wheeler.

The family watched from high above as tower administrators coordinated ground crew snow removal and even watched an E-3 Sentry's take off. Brendan listened and watched as the aircraft taxied down the runway and prepared for takeoff. When the engines kicked in and the aircraft sped down the runway, Poole pointed saying, "there he goes."

After saying goodbye to the tower crew, Joshua challenged Brendan and the rest of the group to go down the 14 flights of stairs rather than taking the elevator before visiting the 517th Airlift Squadron.

"First thing's first," said Capt. John Robbins, 517th Airlift Squadron, as he removed the 19th FS patch on Brendan's shoulder and replaced it with the 517thAS patch. The family toured the C-17 Globemaster III as Robbins explained different sections of the aircraft and why their job is important.

The particular aircraft that Brendan toured had recently returned from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., where it was helping in the relief operation to Haiti, said Robbins.

The tour wrapped up with a visit to the F-15 flight simulator. There the group went through the through safety inspection and was briefed on how their flights work.

Although they would be in separate simulator flight cockpits, the brothers could practice taking off and landing and - as a special treat - try and shoot each other down. The simulators worked like a giant, worldwide gaming network. Simulators both in the building and around the world would be able to interact with Brendan.

After a quick take off and some lessons from Van Beuskom, Brendan was able to successfully fly and shoot down some aircraft aboard the simulator.

"Brendan has the record I've seen for planes downed," said Van Beuskom.

The simulated flight was amazing, Brendan said, but his day wouldn't end until he was airborne. For that the group travelled down the flightline to Elmendorf's Aero club. Where 19th FS Honorary Commander and Reno Air Race pilot Leah Sommer waited with her private Super Cub plane to give Brendan a ride.

Sommer flew Brendan around the airspace near Elmendorf and landed in front of the 19th FS. The group gathered together for a group photo before Brendan's journey came to a conclusion.

Being a pilot for a day is not an experience neither Brendon nor his family will soon forget.