ILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) - It was a wish come true for 14-year-old Payton Burge, as the Carriere resident got to be pilot for a day with the Hurricane Hunters as part of the Make-a-Wish foundation.

Burge wore a flight suit and was made an honorary second lieutenant and got to sit in the cockpit as the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, also known as the Hurricane Hunters, taxied down the runway simulating a takeoff.

Burge suffers from a rare heart condition, and his wish was to earn his wings.

"I've never flown in an airplane,” Burge said. “That was so awesome."

He also worked with the team as it turned in the flight plan, checked the weather and taught him more about their C-130 aircraft.

When asked if he thought he could fly the plane, Burge responded, “No, not without hitting a tree or the ground."

For the pilots and flight crews, this Make-A-Wish gesture served as a chance to pay it forward.

“We have such great community support here,” said Col. Jeff Van Dootingh, 403rd Wing Commander. “This is one of the ways we can give back to the community, and I think it’s important to do that when we can.”

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LINK: https://www.wlox.com/2019/12/1...s-hurricane-hunters/