Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado
AURORA | Few get the opportunity to see up-close and personal an F-16 Fighter jet, but with the help of Make-A-Wish and Buckley Space Force Base, that rare chance came to fruition for one lucky teenager.
Jeremiah “J.P.” Price, who has a muscular disorder, was granted his wish to have a Top Gun experience for a day.
Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado
The day began with the 17-year-old receiving his own fighter jet suit. The thrills got even bigger from there.
During the front row experience with the F-16, he got to watch it take off from the base, which is a rare occurrence for anyone outside of the Space Force world. This was the first time Buckley Space Force Base has granted a Make-A-Wish request, officials said.
An F-16 flies overhead March 31, at Buckley Space Force Base. The Air National Guard put on a flying demonstration for J.P. during his Top Gun experience wish in partnership with Make-A-Wish. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado J.P.’s name was affixed to an F-16 that was part of the demonstration included in his Top Gun experience wish, March 31, at Buckley Space Force Base. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
J.P. and his family make their way down the jetway at Buckley Space Force Base, March 31, where his wish for a Top Gun experience was granted. This is the first time Buckley Space Force base has granted a wish. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
J.P. gets to test some night vision technology, March 31, during his day at Buckley Space Force Base, which was organized on behalf of the Make-A-Wish program. He spent his day touring the base, meeting fighter pilots and watching F-16’s take off. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
J.P. learns about the abilities of the CH 47 Chinook helicopter, March 31, at Buckley Space Force Base. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
F-16 Pilot John “Harden” Toliuszis gives JP a tour around an F-16 after Harden gave a flying demonstration, March 31, for J.P. Seeing Harden take off from Buckley Space Force was the first time J.P. had seen a jet take off in person. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado J.P. tries on a fighter pilot helmet while Major Joseph “Stinger” Valdez slides the visor down to give him the full effect, March 31 at Buckley Space Force Base. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
Sr. Master Sgt. Nelson and J.P. make their way around the front of an F-16 to help the jet go through the final procedures after landing, March 31, at Buckley Space Force Base. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
An F-16 takes off from Buckley Space Force Base, March 31, as J.P. and Maj. Joseph “Stinger” Valdez look on during J.P.’s Top Gun experience wish granted by Buckley and Make-A-Wish. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
J.P. poses in front of a Blackhawk helicopter, March 31, at Buckley Space Force Base during his day-long Top Gun experience. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
J.P. and others watch as F-16’s do a flyover of Buckley Space Force Base, March 31, during J.P.’s Top Gun experience wish, which was granted by Buckley and Make-A-Wish. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
Jeremiah “J.P.” Price and his father Yancy listen as First Sgt. Marc Belo talks about the Blackhawk helicopter, March 31, at Buckley Space Force Base. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado 
An F-16 does a flyover, March 31, at Buckley Space Force Base. The Air National Guard put on a flying demonstration for J.P. during his Top Gun experience wish in partnership with Make-A-Wish. Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado
He’d never seen a jet take off before and being a big fan of the Top Gun movies was the main driver in him selecting this as his wish.
“This means a lot, because not everyone gets to experience this,” J.P. said. “They’ll never know how much it means to me.”
Photo by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado