CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - Make way for Bryson Bridges, aka, Major Stinger, a hot-shot U.S. Air Force pilot from Carmichael, who has just earned his wings.

Bryson applied to the Make-A-Wish Foundation two years ago and was delighted to learn that he had been selected to complete accelerated pilot training at the hands of the squadron members of the 416^th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base in late October.

His visit to Edwards AFB fulfilled his wish to be a jet pilot and marked the first opportunity for the base partner with the foundation to make a wish come true.

His pilot training coincided with Aerospace Valley Air Show, the first air show in more than 10 years at Edwards Air Force Base, California, Oct. 9 and 10. The event also came just days after the 75th anniversary of Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier in the Bell X-1, an event that cemented Edwards AFB (then Muroc Army Airfield) as the premier place on the planet where aviation breakthroughs are made and test pilots are born.

“It was a lot of fun,” young Bryson said by phone. “I loved every minute of it, including the flight simulator.”

Proud Mom Sierra was delighted to share her son’s good news with our readers as well.

Young Bryson, along with his mom and dad have made Carmichael their home for the past four years. He was diagnosed with leukemia in 2019 at the age of two. He successfully completed three years of treatment at Sutter Health in Sacramento just this spring.

“He’s a very brave young man, and he’s loved planes since he was little,” she said.

Bridges, fully kitted out in pilot gear, visited the F-35 flight simulator, where he quickly learned the business of flying from Air Force Maj. Jacob Schonig who served as Bridges’s instructor pilot and escort through the day.

During his training, Bridges learned to take off and land and perform some aerobatic maneuvers, and even shot off some missiles and rockets.

“He was by far the best student I’ve ever seen,” Schonig told those gathered.

Brig. Gen. Matthew Higer, Edwards AFB commander, charged Bridges with the accelerated pilot program, learning, in a day, what usually takes a year. Higer later pinned on the pilot wings Bridges earned on his flight suit.

“My wings looked just like this when I graduated from pilot training,” Higer said.

“You’re the best student I’ve ever seen in my life,” Schonig told Bridges. “You picked things up so quickly. You’ve been in multiple airplanes, and you’ve dominated all of it.”

His suit already adorned with his name patch and squadron insignia patch, Bridges received one more, very special adornment. He was presented with Schonig’s own Air Force Test Pilot School patch, worn only by graduates of the specialized program at Edwards.

He was also bestowed with his pilot nickname — a rite of passage for all military pilots — and will be known as “Stinger,” in tribute to his skills and initials. Bridges can also add “major” to the name, as he was presented with his officer insignia for his hat.

The new major was also presented with the “Skull Courage Award” by the 416th Flight Test Squadron (whose insignia is a skeleton) for demonstrating courage through adversity.

After the ceremonies, Bridges said he was quite anxious to get out on the flight line to see the jets. His Air Force hosts made sure he got a bird’s eye view of the Aerospace Valley Air show, enjoying a trip to the control tower during the air show practice of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, and receiving their aerial achievement award for his piloting skills.