Cindy Rogers wants to be a fighter pilot so bad she has a cat named Maverick.

Yes, that害羞草研究所檚 a Top Gun feline and yes that害羞草研究所檚 how bad she wants it.

Thanks to her courage under fire, Rogers害羞草研究所� dream came true May 30.

It all stemmed from an act of bravery in December 2012 when who tried to save the life of a woman whose jeep plunged into the frigid waters of Wood Lake.

That selfless act made an impact in the community and on her friend Marissa Baecker. To honor Rogers, Baecker made a wish in the #BMO200 fountain to help her friend害羞草研究所檚 lifelong dream take flight.

The next step was to ensure Rogers remained clueless.

The pair flew to Toronto two weeks ago, to take part in what Rogers thought was a commercial photo shoot for a sports company.

In reality, she would soon be up in one of the Waterloo Warbirds fighter jets.

It wasn害羞草研究所檛 until they were on the tarmac, that reality set in.

害羞草研究所淲hen I turned to Marissa, she actually had to turn to me and say 害羞草研究所榳e害羞草研究所檙e not actually doing a photo shoot, you害羞草研究所檙e going flying,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 said Rogers.

She could smell the jet fuel, which was similar to fresh paint.

Rogers suited up and jumped in the cockpit behind the pilot.

害羞草研究所淚t had full controls, I could touch the landing gears and all that stuff,害羞草研究所� she said.

They tightened up her belts before clearing for takeoff.

害羞草研究所淵ou can feel it through your whole core, as the engines rev up, all that rattling,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭he seat belts were pretty tight to start off with, but as you start down the runway they become loose because you害羞草研究所檙e pushed against the back of your seat.害羞草研究所�

The pilot took her on a Top Gun-esque fly-by, doing about 450 km/hr over the runway. 害羞草研究所淭he engines were roaring as he was just flying by,害羞草研究所� she said.

The pilot took her for a full 360-degree roll and asked if she害羞草研究所檇 like to do it again.

She replied 害羞草研究所淗ell yea!害羞草研究所�

She could feel the G-force tugging at her as she flew through the air, having no fear, only excitement.

害羞草研究所淚 get choked up talking about this stuff because it was just incredible,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚t was like a complete roller-coaster ride.害羞草研究所�

Rogers also got the chance to fly the plane.

Her father was in the aviation industry and at 10-years-old she decided she wanted to be a fighter pilot.

Immigrating from South Africa, the Canadian military doesn害羞草研究所檛 recognize her schooling from the country, so she害羞草研究所檚 been unable to obtain her pilot害羞草研究所檚 license.

害羞草研究所淚f I was given the opportunity right now, I害羞草研究所檇 join the military in a heart beat,害羞草研究所� she said.

Baecker nominated her friend because of who she is.

害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 just awesome. She just does so much for everyone else, you know? It was about time that someone did something for Cindy,害羞草研究所� said Baecker.

害羞草研究所淎nd she hasn害羞草研究所檛 stopped smiling since.害羞草研究所�

carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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