The local Shriners Organization worked with the Air Force to help several local children on Friday.

They got the opportunity to do things the average person would never get to experience.

Four local Shaddai Shriner children with special needs got the opportunity of a lifetime, Friday. They got to be a pilot for a day.

"The kids are really appreciative of it; they don't get opportunities to get out in the community to see special things," Phil Dalbertis, Potentate 2008 of the Panama City Shriners said.

For 11-year-old Elizabeth Deaton, she's all smiles. "I flew a plane in a simulator", she said.

The children got an up-close and personal tour of Tyndall jets.

For Elizabeth’s father Mark, he can't be more proud of his daughter. "They've given her a flight suit and all kinds of goodies and pictures,” he said. “Everything you can imagine; we're really thankful.”

And for the pilots, this is a very humbling experience.

"It’s an absolutely great opportunity both for us and these kids, for them to come out and see a little bit about what we do," Captain Dave "Zeke" Skalicky said.

Shriners say events like these help build the children's characters. Even though they are limited to what they can do, being a pilot for a day gave them a chance to live out their dreams.

"The importance of being out here today is all about community team building, and the kids showing that the community is behind them," Dalbertis said.

Shriners’ officials tell us the kids had a blast on Friday and are looking forward to watching Saturday’s big air show.