Pilot for a day, tough as "Nails"

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  A 13-year-old boy toured Luke Feb. 27 where he met Maj. Ellis Kinzer, 425th Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations, and Master Sgt. Alan Flynn, 56th Component Maintenance Squadron electro-environmental systems chief who showed him what it's like to be a pilot for a day. 

Michael 'Nails' Honey was selected for the pilot for a day program and was given the call sign Nails because of the toughness he shown in dealing with his illness. PFAD is an Air Education and Training Command program used to brighten the lives of children with serious illnesses. 

Nails arrived at the South Gate with his family, where they were greeted by Major Kinzer, his escort for the day. 

There first stop on his tour was the base fire department. Here, Nails was shown the ins and outs of being a firefighter and received the training required to put out an aircraft fire before speeding away to the department's training area to do just that. 

"My first thought was, Michael was here to fulfill his dreams," said Steven Kinkade, 56th Civil Engineer Squadron assistant fire chief B shift. "We gave him every opportunity to do that -- riding in the truck, fighting fires; we even made him an honorary firefighter." 

It was obvious to all, how much Nails enjoyed riding in the fire truck and spraying water, said Sergeant Flynn. 

After fighting fires with the base fire department, it was time to visit the hush house where Nails and his family watched an F-16 in afterburner. 

"The whole group crowded into a hardened observation booth and watched the power plant testers put a jet engine through its paces," Major Kinzer said. "All in all it was a great time." 

Also scheduled were visits to the air traffic control tower, lunch at the Desert Star Club, wing life support, Falcon North simulator, security forces K-9 kennel, and the 425th FS; rounding out the tour back at the 310th FS for a social. 

"We gladly obliged with a standing invitation for Nails to come back anytime," Major Kinzer said. "He was a great pilot for a day."

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Michael was unable to complete his pilot-for-a-day tour due to his condition. He passed away in his home Saturday, three days after the tour. His day at Luke was the last venture outside his home before his passing. Michael's family is grateful for Michael's opportunity to participate in the pilot for a day program and the joy he experienced that day.