A 6-year-old from Pennsylvania spent the day at Sikorsky Friday earning an honorary Sikorsky Test Pilot license as part of a special wish.
William Beyer from Collegeville, Pa., suffers from Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome, a serious heart defect that led to him having a heart transplant at 10 months old. He continues to work with doctors to prevent organ rejection. But his struggles don't stop him from dreaming big - Beyer has always aspired to be a pilot.
And with help from Make-A-Wish and Sikorsky, Beyer took to the skies.
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, partnered with Make-A-Wish to give Beyer a “Pilot for a Day” experience at their facility in Stratford. Beyer learned aviation history, aerospace basics and helicopter manufacturing. He was also fitted with a personalized flight suit and a pair of aviator sunglasses before taking to the sky in a helicopter with his parents and younger brother.
Beyer and his family also got a tour of the manufacturing facility, raced in a flight simulator, and met with Sikorsky pilots to hear their stories.
“Thank you for making his wish come true,” Wes Beyer, William’s father, wrote on Sikorsky’s Facebook page. “His mom and I were especially moved by all the workers who showed him support and gave him the great welcome as we toured the factory. William is truly blessed.”
