Liam becomes a Top Dog with his wish to be a fighter pilot

With those words, wish kid Liam became an honorary member of the 56th Squadron at Luke Air Force Base, the “Top Dogs” of Arizona, officially granting his wish to be a fighter pilot. 

Liam was sworn in by Lt. Col. Thomas Hayes, commander of the 61st Fighter Squadron, who spoke with Liam about what it really meant to be a fighter pilot. 

“To be a fighter pilot takes bravery, integrity, self-discipline, focus and being a patriot. Do you have all those things?” Lt. Col. Hayes asked Liam. 

Liam and his family agreed that after years of dealing with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a critical type of epilepsy, he had all of those things and more. 

“We really needed this after this year,” said Megan, Liam’s mother. “It is just incredible to see how this has made him so happy. This is going to stick with him for a long time.” 

With his commander’s approval, Liam got changed into an official flight suit, and headed out to see the planes. His big surprise – his name right on the side of a F- 35A Lightning jet. 

“It’s so cool,” said Liam. “It’s my own jet.”

Liam was able to meet the pilot who took his plane up for some “dog fighting” maneuvers, watching the planes take off from the side of the runway with earplugs and a smile that wouldn’t stop. 

“It’s so loud because they are going so fast,” said Liam. Once the plane landed, he asked to speak to his pilot, “Thank you for flying my plane,” he said. 

From the field to the training room, Liam was set up with a simulator where he delighted in flying and crashing his plane. Followed by pizza and a final official goodbye to his squadron with their special slogan.

“Bring it on Top Dogs,” said Liam to the base, grinning broadly at the cheers he could hear from the offices and the people waiting to say goodbye. 

“It was a good day,” he continued as he walked out. “I’m a fighter pilot now.”