Boyd’s Wish | Blargo!

Mission: Top Gun for a Day – Boyd’s Flight into the Danger Zone

10:30 Hours – Incoming at the Front Line
Boyd, his twin brother Luke, Mom (Krystal), and Dad (Steven) were already in pre-flight mode as they waited in line at the security gate, eyes on the sky. San Diego had been treating them well—between adventures at the San Diego Zoo, the USS Midway, and even a pit stop at Kansas City BBQ, they were ready for today’s mission.

The airshow was already kicking off in the background, and the Red Bull Air Force was stealing the show with helicopters flipping through the air. It was just a preview of the high-octane day ahead.

11:00 Hours – Captain Scaccia’s Rescue Mission
Right on schedule, Captain Michael Scaccia swooped in like a true Top Gun in his trusty golf cart, whisking the family to the Media Chalet—their forward operating base for the day. This is where Boyd and his crew met their first tactical partners: Master Sergeant Downs and Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Kurtz. These Marines weren’t just there for support; they were the VIP tour guides, gear carriers, and inside men for the whole operation.

11:05 Hours – Ready for Takeoff
The airshow had kicked off in full force with the USMC Mounted Color Guard, USN Leap Frogs, and then the MV-22 Osprey Demo. Boyd and Luke were wide-eyed, already in the zone, watching the sky fill with the aircraft that most of us only dream of seeing up close.

11:35 Hours – Mission Intel: RaZZ Larson
Just as the action ramped up, they crossed paths with the legendary RaZZ Larson from the F-22 Demo Team. RaZZ didn’t just chat with Boyd and Luke; he handed over patches like they were medals, securing them as honorary wingmen. The mission was starting to heat up.

11:45 Hours – Major Craig “Brembo” Norris’ Check-in
Enter Major Craig “Brembo” Norris, the F-35B Demo Pilot. Brembo tried to connect with Boyd—who was, by now, growing shy under all this attention—but Boyd accepted the challenge when Brembo handed him a signed poster, three t-shirts, and more patches. Boyd was beginning to resemble a true fighter pilot, with his suit nearly full of patches and nowhere left to stick ‘em. Brembo even promised to fire off flares just for Boyd later in the day.

11:58 Hours – Ground Forces Briefing
Now in full tactical reconnaissance mode, Boyd and Luke got hands-on training in military-grade equipment. Inside the MV-22 Osprey, they manned the guns under the supervision of expert crew members. Luke and Boyd weren’t just pretending; they were on a mission, learning how to operate like real fighter pilots. The family then moved to explore one of the newest military trucks, where they continued their tactical ground training. By this point, Boyd had graduated from a patch-wearing rookie to a full-on Top Gun cadet.

12:30 Hours – Rations at 12 O’clock
Refueling was critical. California Pizza Kitchen stepped in with reinforcements in the form of pizza, a much-needed break before the next leg of the mission.

13:18 Hours – Innovation Center Recon
Next up was a high-tech recon mission at the Innovation Center, where Boyd got up close and personal with the future of military technology—autonomous quads, robotic dogs. It was exciting stuff to see as Boyd explored cutting-edge tech that felt straight out of a sci-fi movie.

13:50 Hours – Control Tower HQ
Time to take things up a notch: The family ascended to the control tower, the nerve center of the airshow. After a brief tour of the tower’s control room, they were taken to the balcony for the best seats in the house. From there, they witnessed the F-22 Raptor Demo with RaZZ Larson (remember him from earlier?) in full swing. And then, true to his word, Brembo took the skies with his F-35B Demo, sending flares blazing through the sky—all for Boyd. Back inside the control tower, Boyd met one of the operators (Gensitskiy).

15:00 Hours – Inside Ops & B-52 Stratofortress Tour
Then they headed out for a B-52 Stratofortress tour. Every step of the way, Boyd was living out his Top Gun dream, exploring the aircraft that define military aviation.

15:25 Hours – A Special Jet Tour with Ben Rose
Next, the 194th Fighter Squadron gave Boyd and Luke the VIP treatment. Ben Rose (rank unknown) provided a full rundown of his jet, even letting Boyd look into the cockpit—the ultimate Top Gun experience. Boyd was now fully briefed on what it takes to fly one of these monsters. Of course, another patch made its way onto his suit.

16:00 Hours – Blue Angels Ops Begin
Back at the Media Chalet, the Blue Angels prepared to take the skies. Boyd, now a seasoned Top Gun operative, watched in awe as the Angels soared overhead with precision and power that only the elite few ever see up close.

16:20 Hours – The Final Mission: Meet the Blue Angels
As the airshow concluded, Captain Scaccia ushered the family to the Blue Angels Chalet for the final mission debrief. Surrounded by spectators, they waited patiently until their names were called. This was it. Boyd, Luke, and the whole crew stepped out onto the tarmac to meet the Blue Angels in person. High-fives & photos — it was the perfect close to a day full of adventure, excitement, and unforgettable memories.

Mission Accomplished
With the day wrapped up, Captain Scaccia provided one final escort via golf cart back to their vehicle. Boyd, now officially Top Gun for a day, had enough patches, photos, and stories to last a lifetime. He may have started the day shy, but by the end, he was practically flying high alongside the best pilots the military had to offer.