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Nine-Year-Old Becomes Airlift Unit's 'Pilot For A Day'
(February 25, 2011) |
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (Feb. 23, 2011) - "This is
awesome," said Owain Weinert. "I mean, I got the chance to
sit in the cockpit of a commercial flight plane once, but
that was nothing compared to this."
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Nine-year-old
Owain Weinert smiles as he sits in the pilot
seat of a C-17 Globemaster III as part of the
Pilot for a Day program, Feb. 15, 2011, at Joint Base
Lewis-McChord, Wash. |
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The 4th Airlift
Squadron showed its newest member around the squadron Feb.
15 as 9-year-old Owain became "Pilot for a Day."
"Pilot for a Day" is an Air Force program that enables
challenged youth a chance to visit an Air Force squadron,
becoming part of the team in the process. The participants
are usually selected through a partnership with a community
hospital or foster program.
"It is an honor for us to
host events like this," said Capt. Stephen Vetek, 4th AS
pilot and "Pilot for a Day" coordinator. "We hope to make
this a special day for Owain and his family, and look
forward to showing him 'Airlift Excellence' up close and
personal."
Last March, Owain was diagnosed with |
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leukemia and has been in treatment ever since. |
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To
see him come back and have a concentrated dose of pure fun
was really awesome," said Owain's father, Alex. "Seeing him
actually act like a kid for a day has been great."
As
a new member of Team McChord, Owain, along with his mother,
father and brother, saw military working dog and explosive
ordnance disposal demonstrations. They also got a chance to
tour the fire station, sit in the pilot seat of a C-17
Globemaster III and "fly" in an aircraft simulator.
"My favorite part was controlling the robot at the fire
station," said Owain. "I named him Montse. I really have a
knack for electronics."
Owain's 7-year-old brother,
Dylan, looks up to him and tagged along all day. They spent
the day touring McChord Field, eating pizza and laughing
together.
"He's a good big brother," said Dylan. "He
liked the robot, but I liked the explosions more. I don't
like when he gets sick. Its better when he's happy, like he
is today."
After a long day of tours and
demonstrations, Owain tried to express how he felt about the
Air Force and the people who made the day possible.
"Today seems like it isn't real, it kind of feels like a
dream," said Owain. "I really don't have the words to
explain how I feel. I never thought anything like this could
happen to me." |
Article and photo by Airman 1st Class Leah Young
Headquarters Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
Copyright 2011 | |
Provided
through DVIDS
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