It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for 18 kids from Colorado Springs to try out the pilot's seat of a C-130 cargo plane.

The youngsters are all part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Pikes Peak program. They got to tour the big cargo plane, as part of a planned visit with the Air Force Reserves' 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson Air Force Base today.

As part of their tour, the kids were allowed to sit in the cockpit, handle the throttles and gauges, learn about the roles of various crew members, and hear how they manage to drop the plane's big payloads, like troops and equipment.

Lt. Col. Freddie Rodriguez, who helped to arrange the tour, called it a success. "The kids were thrilled as they got to play with all the gadgets and gauges in the cockpit, and then get to see a 2-ship formation of C-130's taxi by," Rodriguez said, referring to a low-level fly-by the kids viewed.

Jerry Wilson, 11, said the visit was very fun, but he was more impressed by the sounds. "Hearing the loud noise, really," he exclaimed.

The tour was part of Big Brothers Big Sisters Week, which was declared in a proclamation by Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera yesterday. BBBS Week is a recruiting push by the organization to get more mentors. Mayor Rivera, who's served as a "big brother" since 1993, says, "I spend one and a half hours each week doing this. If I can do it, you can, too."

Big Brothers Big Sisters Pikes Peak expects to serve roughly 450 children ages 7 through 17 during the course of this year, including children from single-parent homes, children with a deployed parent, and children with a parent who's incarcerated. The REACH program, administered by BBBS, is dedicated to serving children with at least one incarcerated parent, and is partially funded by a federal grant.

The lack of mentors could increase the wait time for youths to be matched with an adult volunteer "big brother" or "big sister". Executive Director April Speake says the need is especially great for young boys. "Sixty men in sixty days is our goal, to try and recruit male mentors," she says.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Week continues through August 15th with several activities.

Wednesday, August 13th, the public can show their support for the program by attending Big Brothers Big Sisters Night at Sky Sox Stadium. The game is set to start at 7:05 pm.

Thursday, August 14th, BBBS is asking members of the military to consider becoming a "big brother" or "big sister", with its Military Mentor Sign-up Day.

Friday, August 15th, the public is invited to enjoy lunch or dinner at ITZ, off Powers Boulevard, where a mention of Big Brothers Big Sisters while ordering specific meal and game packages will bring a portion of the proceeds to be donated to BBBS.

If you would like more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters Week, to learn how to volunteer, or if you'd like to donate, you can contact BBBS at 719-633-2443, or online by clicking below.