Nicole Cichon, 12, covers her ears with her mother's help as one of the Thunderbird's F-16s passes by at the High Flight day at the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow, on Friday, Sept. 22, 2017. High Flight was held during the practice day before the airshow started and allowed children with special needs to come when the area wouldn't be crowded.

(The Gazette, Nadav Soroker)

092217HIGHFLIGHTsorokerpikes peak regional airshowairportspecial needs kids

Blaze Beiermann, 8, high-fives Lt. Col. Jason Heard, the team commander, during a meet and greet at the High Flight day at Pikes Peak Regional Airshow on Friday, Sept. 22, 2017. Children with special needs from around the Pike's Peak region were invited to the practice day along with their families.

(The Gazette, Nadav Soroker)

092217HIGHFLIGHTsorokerpikes peak regional airshowairportspecial needs kids

Jacob Jordan, 8, talks to Maj. Ryan Bodenheimer about the Thunderbirds performance during their practice day before the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow on Friday, Sept. 22, 2017. Jordan diligently collected signatures from every Thunderbird member he could.

(The Gazette, Nadav Soroker)

092217HIGHFLIGHTsorokerpikes peak regional airshowairportspecial needs kids

Maj. Ryan Bodenheimer asks Jacob Jordan, 8, what he thought of the Thunderbirds' performance during the practice session the day before the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow on Friday, Sept. 22, 2017. Jordan gave the pilots' performance an 'A' rating.

(The Gazette, Nadav Soroker)

092217HIGHFLIGHTsorokerpikes peak regional airshowairportspecial needs kids

The Thunderbirds performance team bursts from their formation during practice before the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow on Friday, Sept. 22, 2017. Below, children with special needs and their families watched the performance.

(The Gazette, Nadav Soroker)

092217HIGHFLIGHTsorokerpikes peak regional airshowairportspecial needs kids

Penny Herndon, 7, receives a signed roster from SSgt. Kyle Smith during a meet and greet at the High Flight day at Pikes Peak Regional Airshow on Friday, Sept. 22, 2017. After the airshow the pilots came out to meet the kids that watched their practice runs.

(The Gazette, Nadav Soroker)

092217HIGHFLIGHTsorokerpikes peak regional airshowairportspecial needs kids

Theo Herndon, 5, gets a signature on his team roster by Capt. Glen Goncharow at the High Flight day at the Pikes Peak Regional Airshow on Friday, Sept. 22, 2017. About 400 people attended the event, near the maximum that the organizers wanted.

(The Gazette, Nadav Soroker)

092217HIGHFLIGHTsorokerpikes peak regional airshowairportspecial needs kids

Special needs children from around the Pike's Peak region were invited to come to practice day before the Pike's Peak Regional Airshow at the Colorado Springs Airport on Friday, Sept. 22, 2017. About 400 people came, including the children and their families.

(The Gazette, Nadav Soroker)

2017HighFlightsorokerpikes peak regional airshowairportspecial needs kids