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Pilot for a Day: Brandon Whedbee

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Lauren Main
  • 15th Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --  Brandon Whedbee, an 11-year-old Leukemia patient, piloted the KC-135 simulator with a calculating sense of purpose. As the plane took off and headed for blue skies, his eyes widened as he marveled at the graphic screen in front of him. He banked a hard left and looked down at the moving ground beneath him as he flew over the island of Oahu. For someone who has been through so much, flying a plane must have seemed like child's play.

Brandon was nominated by the Kapiolani Medical Center to be a part of the 15th Wing's Pilot for a Day program. The program nominates a child each quarter to visit Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, and take a break from their treatment.

"We found out the day after Thanksgiving that Brandon had Leukemia," said Ann Masang, Brandon's mother. "We initially took him in to the doctor because he kept throwing up. By week three, when he was still sick, so the doctor sent us to the emergency room. I thought, 'well this can't be good'. I was scared."

Brandon, who is still receiving treatment for Leukemia, has been counting down for the past three weeks, when he initially found out he was going to be a Pilot for a Day.

"He was so excited to be here," said Masang. "On Monday, he ran up to me and told me, 'only four more days!' He even downloaded an application on his phone so he could learn Air Force ranks and know what rank everyone was."

Following the simulator, Brandon was able to witness firsthand the power and skill of the military working dogs of the 647th SFS.

Upon arrival, Staff Sgt. Larry Harris, a dog handler with the 647th Security Forces Squadron, gave Brandon a tour of the kennels. Harris explained the training the dogs receive and the different tasks that each of them has to perform to ensure mission success.

During the demonstration, Brandon remained cautiously along the fence and watched in awe as a dog named Aron chased down a simulated perpetrator and "made an arrest."
Today, the only dilemma Brandon had to face was deciding which part of it was his favorite.

"I liked the simulator," Brandon said. "It's like a video game. My favorite part was flying over the other islands."

Despite a tough year filled with doctors and hospitals, the Whedbee family is thankful for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities Brandon has been offered --opportunities like the "Pilot for a Day" program.

"I think he had a great time today," said Masang. "We really appreciate what everyone is doing."

Capt. Chris Nini, a C-17 Globemaster III pilot with the 535th Airlift Squadron, enjoys giving kids like Brandon a chance to get away, if only for a short while.

"I think my favorite part of this is getting to show them what we do and see how they react to everything," he said. "It's nice to be able to give them a break from the things going on in their lives."