Tailhook Daily Briefing

Tailhook August 2012 Newsletter

To begin, we have sad news to report…

Another of our WW II combat leaders, Rear Admiral James D. “Jig Dog“ Ramage, USN (Ret), made his last cut on 21 July 2012 at the age of 96 in Coronado, California. He is survived by his two daughters, Jaleen Edwards and Jamie Franzman, along with his stepdaughter Karen Cordes, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

A celebration of “Jig Dog” is planned at Tailhook HQ in San Diego on Friday October 12th (1700-1900) if you are in the area, please plan to stop by and share with us you best “Jig Dog” story.

For now I provide you with an interview conducted in 2010 with Admiral Ramage…

And now a few Updates:

Tailhook 2012 Reunion - 6-9 September

· Commemoration of the U.S. Marine Corps Aviation
Late reservations can be made at the Silver Legacy downtown.  We will provide transportation to and from downtown.

The exhibit floor will be full of vendors selling everything from T shirts to F-35B’s and C’s.  Our Tailhook Association store will be selling a full line of shirts, jackets and T-shirts along with the two commemorative shirts pictured below.  Don’t miss this opportunity to visit with squadron mates, friends, active duty leaders and warriors.

Get your reunion Shirt early:

Tailhook Store:

The Tailhook Association online store will close 29 August and the store will reopen at the reunion in Reno on 6 September.  Following the reunion the online store will reopen on 24 September.  Advanced reunion registrations will also close on 29 August.  Late registration will open 6 Sept in the Pavilion of John Ascuaga's Nugget in Reno NV.

Scholarship Season:

Applications for the 2013-2014 school years will be available on 15 December 2012.  Next year we plan to award grants in amounts from $1,500 to $22,000. Our goal is to provide undergraduate educational scholarship grants the best and brightest students.

We will select two Tailhook/Wagner College Presidential 4 year scholarship grants of $22,000 per year for 4 years. Applicants for this grant must also be accepted to Wagner College.

Scholarship Eligibility:

To be eligible for consideration for a Tailhook Educational Foundation scholarship, an individual must be a high school graduate and the natural, step, or adopted son, daughter or grandchild of a current or former (U.S. Navy / U.S. Marine Corps / U.S. Coast Guard) Naval Aviator, Naval Flight Officer, or Naval Aircrewman. Also eligible are individuals or children of individuals who are serving or have served on board a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier in ship’s company or the air wing. Eligible applicants must be accepted for undergraduate enrollment at an accredited college or university.

Hook 2011! The Centennial Celebration Continues

A mere 10 days from now many of us will be gathering in the warm desert sun of Reno NV for the 2011 Tailhook Reunion and Symposium! 

Here is an online reminder of the festivities we are all looking forward to:

2011 Tailhook Convention Schedule

Thursday, 8 September 2011
0830–2100 Tailhook Sales Booth Open
0900–2100 Registration — The Nugget Hotel, Pavilion A Foyer
0900–2100 Exhibits Open, Pavilions A–E
1800–2100 Welcome — Reunion Groups Reception (No Host), Pavilions A–E

Friday, 9 September 2011
0730–1200 ✈ Golf Tournament — Wildcreek G.C., Sparks, Nev., and Hidden Valley C.C. Reno
0800–1330 ✈ Tour of NAS Fallon and Lunch (Limited to the first 90 guests)
0800–1200 ✈ “Bullet” Bob Canepa Memorial Tennis Tournament
0830–2100 Tailhook Sales Booth Open
0830–1330 ✈ Lake Tahoe cruise on board the 85-ft. yacht Paradise with “Mark Twain” as narrator. Includes lunch. (Limited to the first 90 guests)
0900–2100 Registration — The Nugget Hotel, Pavilion A Foyer
0900–1700 Symposium Programs, Rose A Ballroom
0930–1400 ✈ Tahoe Ridge Winery Tour Includes lunch. (Limited to the first 90 guests)
1100–2100 Exhibits Open, Pavilions A–E
1630–1700 Annual Membership Meeting, Rose A Ballroom
1800–2400 ✈ “Bug” Roach Flight-Deck Mixer, Pavilions A–E and Rose A & B Ballrooms

Saturday, 10 September 2011
0530–0900 ✈ Balloon Race Shuttle (Limited to the first 40 guests)
0700–0800 ✈ Tailhook Association 5K Fun Run
0830–1500 Tailhook Sales Booth Open
0830–1500 Registration — The Nugget Hotel, Pavilion A Foyer
0900–1545 Symposium Programs, Rose A Ballroom
0900–1500 Exhibits Open, Pavilions A–E
0930–1100 ✈ Special Event — NMA/USAA/MOAA Spouse Financial Briefing,
Celebrity Showroom
1200–1345 ✈ RADM “Jig Dog” and Ginger Ramage Recognition Luncheon, Rose B Ballroom (Seating begins at 1130)
1500 Exhibits Closed
1800–1930 Pre-Banquet Reception (No Host), Rose A and B Foyer and Pavilion A Foyer
1930–2200 ✈ Tailhook Banquet, Semi-Formal, Rose A and B Ballroom (Seating begins at 1900)

Sunday, 11 September 2011
Breakfast is available at the General Store, the Farm House or the Rotisserie on the Nugget’s main floor.

✈ Ticket/Payment Required event. Casual attire for all events except banquet.
Flight suits encouraged for flight-deck mixer.

➢ Tailhook is proud to welcome the following reunion groups: Reserves Over Fightertown (VF-301, VF-302, VC/VFC-13), Viking Association/VS-37, VA-304, Prowler Desert Storm Squadrons, Air Task Groups, VF-92, VF-202, VF-24/VF-211, VA/VFA-127, Skyhawk Association and Intruder Association who are holding events in conjunction with the Tailhook Convention. The Thursday
evening welcoming reception, open to everyone, will salute these reunion groups. Visit the Tailhook Web site for more information.

➢The Friday evening “Bug” Roach Flight-Deck Mixer will salute 100 Years of Naval Aviation. Flight suits are encouraged. This event
includes three hosted drinks, beer, wine, soft drinks or cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres.

I’ll see you there!

-JC

Your Tailhook Educational Foundation At Work!

The 2010 Tailhook Educational Foundation Scholarship Winners are announced in the latest edition of “The Hook” (Summer 2010).

This year, 71 scholarships were awarded with grants totaling $193,600! Thanks to your generous donations, our next generation is off to a good start!  Each of the awardees was recognized for having, superior GPA and the highest Scholastic Aptitude Test Scores along with participating in extracurricular activities like sports, student government, or other community services.

Several recipients are also children whose fathers were killed in the line of duty.  We always want to take care of our own!

President of the Tailhook Educational Foundation, RADM Ham Tallent USN(ret), adds,

“…(T)his year we are extremely proud to select two of our
applicants for the TEF/Wagner College Presidential Four Year
Scholarships, one for $17,000 per year and one for $22,000 per year. We also are honored to award a $10,000 donation from the “CAPT Ed Holley, USN(Ret), Trust, Memorial Scholarship.” It is sponsored by family and The Edward B. Holley Trust. (CAPT Holley was a former Blue Angel boss).

A special thanks to all the friends and family of Gary “Quail”
Laughlin for the establishment of our 33rd fully funded scholarship.  Our hats off to CAPT Dave and Sandy Silkey for keeping the ball rolling (donating more than $59,000) and a special happy birthday wish from the Foundation staff to Quail. This is the first time this scholarship will be awarded. Our hats are also off to the Intruder Association for their $40,000 donation and the subsequent funding of our 34th permanent scholarship…

I close my comments with this quote:

“If there is any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not deter or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
                                                          ~William Penn

The Tailhook Educational Foundation is again eligible for your CFC
contributions. Please give generously this fall using CFC
Number 10251. Thank all of you for your kindness, your
donations and your continued support.

Of special note, Tailhook is announcing that the Foundation will be raising money for a fully funded memorial scholarship for Lt. Miroslav Steven Zilberman.

 

2010 TAILHOOK FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS …

For more details of who these fine young people are and which scholarships they were awarded, click here.

And for more information on how you can get involved with the Tailhook Educational Foundation… http://tailhook.org/Foundation.html 

Bravo Zulu all!

What Are You Doing Tomorrow in San Diego?

Well if you are a Tailhooker, we expect to see you at the Tilted Kilt!

 

From “Spike” Prendergast:

Just a reminder that Tomorrow, Wednesday evening (29 July) is our July get-together at “The Tilted Kilt”.  As you can see from the attached photos, the wait staff has been very diligent in getting “briefed up” on carrier aviation and the A-6 Intruder during their recent visit to USS MIDWAY in preps for the event.  Looking forward to seeing you all there in support of the Intruder Association’s Scholarship fund. 

Hey!  If an F-4 Guy is supporting the cause of the A-6 Bubbas, ya know it’s gotta be a worthy cause!  Get out and join your fellow Tailhookers at the Tilted kilt!  Details below…

Wednesday, 29 July, at “The Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery” (link), also known as “the best looking sports pub you’ve ever seen”.  The San Diego Intruder Association (link) is hosting this special San Diego Tailhook Ready Room event as a fund raiser for the Intruder Association Scholarship Fund administered by the Tailhook Organization.  You will enjoy the finest pub grub food, Tilted Kilt's Ale, wine, Tailhook videos, participation in the event raffles that include Padre and Tailhook memorabilia (Padre memorabilia donated by the Padres and Tilted Kilt management), USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum tickets, camaraderie with your fellow Tailhookers and Tilted Kilt clientele, and pictures with the Tilted Kilt hostesses. As usual, the mission of 'Attack' and the singular role of the aircraft carrier to put attack aviation within strike distance of the enemy will be greatly debated between the fighter and attack squadron mates. 

Rules of Engagement:  "Charlie time" will be 1700 (5:00 PM).  The evening's charge is $30 per person which includes all food, Tilted Kilt ale, and wine and a scholarship fund contribution.  No bar fines will be charged for pictures with the Tilted Kilt hostesses. 

Dress casual and don't hesitate to breakout and wear your beloved flight suit or Tailhook attire.  As always, please feel free to bring spouses, significant others, friends, whatever.  The more the merrier!

If you have Tailhook aviation videos (DVD format) you'd like to share with your squadron mates, let Clyde Cain ([email protected]) know and bring them to the event.

Directions:  “The Tilted Kilt” is located at 310 10th Ave at the intersection of 10^th Avenue and “K” Street immediately north of Petco Park (map) .  There is ample covered public parking in the area, and the Padres are on the road that week, so the Padre PETCO Park Lot and curbside parking should be no problem either.

It will be a great event for a good cause...see you at the Kilt!

Attention all San Diego Tailhookers

Greeting all you San Diego Tailhookers and/or Friends of Naval Aviation:

Hope everyone is having a wonderful San Diego summer season.  As promised, our next two events are going to be something really special in support of some wonderful causes:

This is your monthly reminder/Warning Order for what is going to be a very special event on Wednesday, 29 July, at “The Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery” (link), also known as “the best looking sports pub you’ve ever seen”.  The San Diego Intruder Association (link) is hosting this special San Diego Tailhook Ready Room event as a fund raiser for the Intruder Association Scholarship Fund administered by the Tailhook Organization.  You will enjoy the finest pub grub food, Tilted Kilt's Ale, wine, Tailhook videos, participation in the event raffles that include Padre and Tailhook memorabilia (Padre memorabilia donated by the Padres and Tilted Kilt management), USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum tickets, camaraderie with your fellow Tailhookers and Tilted Kilt clientele, and pictures with the Tilted Kilt hostesses. As usual, the mission of 'Attack' and the singular role of the aircraft carrier to put attack aviation within strike distance of the enemy will be greatly debated between the fighter and attack squadron mates. 

Rules of Engagement:  "Charlie time" will be 1700 (5:00 PM).  The evening's charge is $30 per person which includes all food, Tilted Kilt ale, and wine and a scholarship fund contribution.  No bar fines will be charged for pictures with the Tilted Kilt hostesses.  J

Dress casual and don't hesitate to breakout and wear your beloved flight suit or Tailhook attire.  As always, please feel free to bring spouses, significant others, friends, whatever.  The more the merrier!

If you have Tailhook aviation videos (DVD format) you'd like to share with your squadron mates, let Clyde Cain ([email protected]) know and bring them to the event.

Directions:  “The Tilted Kilt” is located at 310 10th Ave at the intersection of 10^th Avenue and “K” Street immediately north of Petco Park (map) .  There is ample covered public parking in the area, and the Padres are on the road that week, so the Padre PETCO Park Lot and curbside parking should be no problem either.

It will be a great event for a good cause...see you at the Kilt!

But Wait!  There’s More!

Advance Planning Notice for August Tailhook Ready Room Event: For August, we’re again doing something very special in support of our larger organization.  The Ready Room event will be part of THE FIRST ANNUAL Tailhook Educational Foundation “NIGHT AT THE PADRES FUND RAISER”. Join the Foundation for an exciting Major League Baseball game when the San Diego Padres take on the visiting Saint Louis Cardinals as the Padres honor The Tailhook Educational Foundation during the Pre-Game Ceremony. This will be a PERFECT EVENT for you to bring children, business associates, friends and neighbors, your local youth sports team, Scouts, etc.  You can bring your personal group to a great evening at a great price and help the Tailhook Educational Foundation at the same time!

Thursday, August 20th, 7:05pm -- San Diego Padres vs St. Louis Cardinals

Fundraiser Sponsored by The Tailhook Educational Foundation Board of Directors and Volunteers

Tickets:  Field Reserved Section 122 ~ Tailhook Price $22 -- Save $12 off the normal price!

Your ticket purchases will also assist the Foundation to support our ongoing scholarship program.  More than 700 educational scholarships for a total value of more than $1,000,000 have been awarded to children and grandchildren of present and former United States Navy carrier aviation personnel since the foundations creation in 1992.  (87 Scholarships were awarded in 2009, ranging from $1,500 to $15,000 for a total value of $193,000)

For more information, contact Marc “Tag” Ostertag, Tailhook Educational Foundation at 858-689-9223

Tickets are available online at:

www.padres.com/grouppromo

Enter Promotion Code: TAILHOOK

Finally, here’s the link to the latest online Tailhook Newsletter for those of you who may not be on electronic distro:  July Newsletter

Look forward to seeing you all soon at some GREAT events!

 

All the best to all, Spike

"Spike" Prendergast

San Diego Tailhook Ready Room

Tel:  858-795-1254

Cell:  619-559-0955

[email protected]

The Tailhook Education Stimulus

Tailhook offers a slightly different take on a “Stimulus Package!”  Following the tradition of “The Navy Takes Care of Its Own”  we in Tailhook take care of our own in the form of the Tailhook Educational Scholarships though donations made to the Tailhook Educational Foundation.

Tailhook Educational Foundation Scholarship Awards

The purposes of the Tailhook Educational Foundation are to educate the public with regard to the history and present day activities of United States Navy carrier aviation; to provide undergraduate educational scholarships to persons, or children of persons, who serve or formerly served the United States Navy as Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers, or Naval Aircrewmen, or as carrier aviation air wing or ship’s company personnel; and to distribute educational materials pertaining to aviation in general and naval aviation in particular.

Scholarship Eligibility: To be eligible for consideration for a Tailhook Educational Foundation scholarship, an individual must be a high school graduate and the natural, step, or adopted son, daughter or grandchild of a current or former Naval Aviator, Naval Flight Officer, or Naval Aircrewman. Also eligible are individuals or children of individuals who are serving or have served on board a U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier in ship’s company or the air wing.

Eligible applicants must be accepted for undergraduate enrollment at an accredited college or university.

Completed application forms, with enclosures, must be received in the Tailhook Educational Foundation office no later than March 16, 2009, for the 2009-2010 school year. If you have any questions about scholarship qualifications, call the Foundation at (800) 269-8267.

Send applications to:

The Tailhook Educational Foundation
9696 Businesspark Ave
San Diego, CA 92131-1643

So, if you are looking for a little extra dough to help you get through the expenses of college, we may be able to help.  But you have to do your part you have to get your applications in no later than March 16, 2009!

You can download your applications by clicking the links below (select the one that meets who you are today):

• High School Student [Application]
• College Student [Application]
• Enlisted [Application]

And if you would like to help Tailhookers of tomorrow get a better start in their educational endeavors, please feel free to contribute to the Tailhook Educational Foundation.  More information and the opportunity to donate can be found here [LINK].

Tailhook Educational Foundation

Many visitors may have noticed the new link in the left navigation bar to the Tailhook Educational Foundation.  This provides readers of TDB easy access to contribute and learn about how we can help extend the positive effects of Naval Aviation to those of us who really matter... our kids, and those in uniform who have helped us become who we are today!

The Foundation is a charitable nonprofit California corporation created in February 1992. The Foundation's charter is

"...to educate the nation's public with regard to the history and present day activities of the United States Navy carrier aviation and its importance to our country's national security."

The purposes of the Tailhook Educational Foundation are to educate the public with regard to the history and present day activities of United States Navy carrier aviation; to provide undergraduate educational scholarships to persons, or children of persons, who serve or formerly served the United States Navy as Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers, or Naval Aircrewmen, or as carrier aviation air wing or ship’s company personnel; and to distribute educational materials pertaining to aviation in general and naval aviation in particular.

Scholarship Eligibility: To be eligible for consideration for a Tailhook Educational Foundation scholarship, an individual must be a high school graduate and the natural, step, or adopted son, daughter or grandchild of a current or former Naval Aviator, Naval Flight Officer, or Naval Aircrewman. Also eligible are individuals or children of individuals who are serving or have served on board a U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier in ship’s company or the air wing.

Eligible applicants must be accepted for undergraduate enrollment at an accredited college or university.

To view the 2008 Winners of Scholarships Click Here or on the image of this year's winners on the right --------->

The next Scholarship Season starts 15 December 2008! So mark you calendars if you think you could use some assistance in getting through school! More will be posted here outlining deadlines and providing links to the needed documents and applications.

Now, none of this would be possible with out the help of us... ALL OF US!  Tailhook is about much more than just enjoying the legacy of Naval Aviation, it is also about taking care of our own.

As a charitable organization, the Tailhook Educational Foundation has no members. It depends on donations from persons who share the goals and vision of the Foundation. Over the past 30 years, more than 400 scholarships have been given to members of the Naval Aviation family. The Tailhook Educational Foundation currently provides several $2,000 scholarships yearly (3 $10,000 scholarships in 2007 for a total of 53 awards) to qualified children and grandchildren of the Naval carrier aviation community for higher education.

The Foundation assists exceptionally qualified and deserving students to attain their goals of further education. Preference is given to the children of persons who have given their lives in the line of duty. The scholarships given are direct grants made out to the students and the schools which they attend.

The Hook is the only publication in the world that is dedicated to telling the story of U.S. Navy carrier aviation, both past and present. Each issue contains a selection of carrier and squadron histories balanced with departments containing the latest news of current units and aerospace industry developments affecting carrier aviation. Emphasis is placed on high quality reproduction of the best photographs available of U.S. Navy aircraft in  operational situations. A typical issue of The Hook will contain more than 175 photographs and squadron insignia within its pages. Accompanying each carrier history article is a unique matrix containing a list of each squadron, type of aircraft, dates and area of deployment of the ship featured. The Tailhook Educational Foundation distributes this historical journal of naval carrier aviation achievement to over 1000 high school, preparatory school, college and university libraries. The Hook exposes students to the role naval carrier aviation has played in support of U.S. interests throughout the world. The journal serves as an educational and recruiting tool to foster student interest in the U. S. Navy. A long-term goal of the Foundation is to establish and maintain a scholarship endowment fund of sufficient size to be able to use the earnings to fund the scholarship program.

Contributions to the Tailhook Educational Foundation can be made in various ways. All donations are deductible from your federal and state income tax. You can contribute to the Tailhook Educational Foundation through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC No. 10251), an endowment, or "planned estate giving," a direct cash or non-cash asset donation, or by making the Foundation the beneficiary of a portion of your life insurance or retirement program. Our federal tax identification is 33-487778 and our state registration number is D-1804104

Click the image below for more information:

The Tailhook Educational Foundation
P.O. Box 26626
San Diego, CA 92196-0626

1-800-269-8267

In the coming weeks we at TDB will be illustrating great tales of foundation fund raising efforts by Tailhookers around the nation (maybe the world) and providing examples of the various Scholarship funds you can contribute to if you have a preference!  Keep an eye our for more details as we go...

The 2008 Airshow Season is Drawing to a Close

With the turning leaves comes the twilight of another great season… Airshow season that is.  On average over 26 million people attend the more than 400 airshows in the USA every year!  Not a surprising number for those of us who have attended a Miramar, Nellis, Oceana, or Oshkosh show. 

The great thing about Airshows are that they have an appeal for everyone, from the hard core aviation aficionado to the merely flight curious or a dragged along date of some “Blue Angel Groupie”.  There are astonishing acts galore, as well as other extremely “campy” ones, we’ve seen it all!  And for those of us who sought our fix of professional fliers deftly displaying their prowess at stick and rudder, we were hopefully not disappointed this year. 

This year, in late September, I found myself in Grand Junction Colorado on the great Western Slope of the Colorado Rocky Mountains with my wife Ginger and fellow Tailhooker Ken Schoeni, to enjoy the camaraderie of a great series of now legendary,Tailhook parties thrown by Hans and Kathy Schmoldt at their ranch  benefiting the Tailhook Educational Foundation and to attend a fantastic airshow. 

I consider myself a “seasoned” airshow spectator, growing up in NAVAIR I have attended nearly 100 airshows in my 42 years and I must confess, this smaller show is one of my favorites. Walker Field, the site of this year’s show, has that nostalgic dusty old world small town airport feel to it, similar to Lemoore, China Lake, El Centro or Edwards in the 70’s.  It’s an encapsulation of true Americana in the Colorado high desert… unspoiled.  It is an inspiring venue with the impressive flightline backdrop of Mt Garfield rising 1,500 feet above the nearly mile high field elevation! 

What also makes this field special is the 10,500 ft main runway, easily accommodating the majority of aircraft operating in the skies today, which  allows for a great airshow including performances by Navy and Air Force fighters so popular among the faithful.  This year attendees were thrilled by the likes of the Army Golden Knights parachute team and the Air Force’s F-16 and F-15 flight demonstration teams, including a great Heritage Flight with both in formation with a spotless P-51. 

Also well represented were civilian acts like Gene Soucy’s Showcat, Steve Oliver’ Super Chipmunk, The Red Bull Mig 17 and the Shockwave Jet Truck which always excites the crowd, yes even we purists are prone to a nervous laugh or two at the compressor thumps of Shockwave’s afterburners!

 

But, as is the case at many a show across the nation, most attending this year were there to be thrilled by Naval Aviation’s best ambassadors, The Blue Angels.

As editor of TDB (with the assistance of Darlyne Merkel the Official Airshow Photographer and Kathy Schmoldt who helped me connect with the right folks in Grand Junction), I was afforded access to the field for the Practice and Media Day events.  I was also invited by the Media coordinator, Julie Schafer, to partake in the interview session with the Blues.  I accepted.   I was privileged to interview Marine Captain Brendan “Cletus” Burks the Pilot In Command of "FAT ALBERT" for the entire weekend.  I could not have asked for a better pilot to interview.  As is always the case with the Blues, Brendan was professional, polite and affable, but more to the point he is the C-130 pilot, a subject matter I am not as well versed on as I am with the Tailhooked fast movers!  Thus I got to ask questions which I do not already know the answer!

I rapidly progressed through the basics… “what brought you to the Blues, the Marines, flying etc...” After we strolled through his bio and his list of tours in Portugal, Iceland, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Guam, Iwo Jima, Wake Island, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Australia… I finally received Captain Burk’s well rehearsed, but quite natural in his Alabama drawl, “Ah shucks, I’m just glad to be here representing the guys and gals serving everyday in the fleet!”  Which although a bit cliché’ I do know to be sincere, for he and all of the squadron. 

Me? I wanted to know some of the more specific elements about flying “Bert” especially in the beautiful yet challenging environments of high altitude Grand Junction.  Now I was interested… 

You could now see the real joy of flying in Bendan’s eyes as he began his regale,  “Because of the high density altitude of Grand Junction (Runway 11 Elevation: 4819.8 ft.) obviously the 'Need for Speed' is a bit more prevalent…”

That’s just fun to hear from a Herk Pilot!

“We’ll run ‘Bert’ up to max nose wheel speed, approximately 130kts indicated, call for the bottles... as the JATO kicks in I'll then pull back on the yolk initiating a 45 degree nose high climb out!  Pitching over, going weightless at approximately 1,500 feet (AGL)!  That’s a lot of fun!... After that we'll take a spin around the neighborhood at 300+ knots, low level of course... make a few passes by the crowd and end up executing a high approach to a 'short field' precision landing!  Backing Bert up to take a bow!"

It was in my conversation with Capt. Burks that I learned that we spectators who have come to really enjoy the spectacle of Fat Albert’s JATO departures, had better enjoy the show while we still can, as the rockets “Bert” uses are in scarce supply and JATO is a one shot deal! No refills!...  Although I can't help but think it would be entertaining to head down to the local Pensacola “Propane King” with one of the bottles in the back of the Chief’s 1975 Chevy Pickup and ask the unsuspecting clerk behind the counter to “Fill ‘er Up!” 

Sorry I digress… 

According to Capt. Burks, “Fat Albert” is limited to approximately 20 JATO departures per year, so they are a bit selective on when they employ the  bottles.  We were fortunate enough to see the famed JATO departure on Saturday.  Looking forward, soon the Blues will be transitioning from the current “Fat Albert” C-130T to the new C-130J complete with the new engines and the palm frawn spinners!  “Cletus” declared, "These new engines equate to the same power rating as “Bert” using JATO so audiences will still see much the same flight profile, just without the sparklers!"

So if you wanna see fire, see “Bert” soon!

 

At the conclusion of the interview, Capt. Burks asked if I was "joining him on today's flight."  I was a little surprised at this, but come to find out many in the press were indeed invited to take the hop, I unfortunately was late to the approval list and alas it was not to be... maybe next time or maybe they're saving #7 for me.

The Blue Angels and all of the other performers at Grand Junction put on an excellent display of high quality airmanship, that is repeated time and time again all across this great nation.  If you haven't been to an airshow in awhile you may still have time this year in the waning months of "Show Season," check to see if there may still be one coming to an airfield near you.  If not, I suggest you plan to attend a show in your favorite town next year... And if you are an "Aviation Geek" like me, you will not be disappointed!

Some of the remaining shows this Season you may be interest in are (courtesy of Airshow Buzz):

Oct 18, 2008
Neighborhood Leaders to National Heroes Airshow
Riverside, CA

Oct 18-19, 2008
Boshears Skyfest 2008
Augusta, GA

Oct 18-19, 2008
Warner Robins AFB Air Show
Warner Robins AFB, GA

Oct 18-19, 2008
Wings over Marietta
Dobbins AFB, GA

Oct 24-26, 2008
NAS Jacksonville Airshow
NAS Jacksonville, FL

Oct 24-26, 2008
Wings Over Houston Airshow
Houston, TX

Nov 01, 2008
Flight of the Phoenix Armed Forces Day Airshow/Airport Open House
Gilmer, TX

Nov 01, 2008
Jacqueline Cochran Air Show
Thermal, CA

Nov 01-02, 2008
Sertoma Cajun Air Festival
Lafayette, LA

Nov 01-02, 2008
Lackland AFB Airshow
Lackland AFB, TX

Nov 01-02, 2008
Stanly County Fly-In and Air Show
Albemarle, NC

Nov 07-09, 2008
Monroe Airport Veterans Day Celebration
Monroe, NC

Nov 07-10, 2008
VNA Air Show - Stuart
Stuart, FL

Nov 08, 2008
CAF Ranger Wing Airshow
Waco, TX

Nov 08-09, 2008
Aviation Nation
Nellis AFB, NV

Nov 08-09, 2008
Air-Space Expo
Kennedy Space Center, FL

Nov 13-16, 2008
Blue Angels Homecoming
NAS Pensacola, FL

 Enjoy the rest of the season... only a few more shopping days left!

More and higher quality photos of the 2008 Grand Junction Airshow can be found here [Link]... All photos in this post are the copyright property of John Carmichael, if you would like to use or republish any of these or the images at smugmug please contact me for permission [here] thank you.

Less than a Month to HOOK '08!

HOOK 08 CONVENTION SCHEDULE - A TRIBUTE TO THE LSO

 

Thursday, 4 September 2008

• 0830-2100 Tailhook Ship’s Store Open – Pavilion A Foyer
• 0900-2100 Registration – Pavilion A Foyer
• 0900-2100 Exhibits Open – Pavilions A through E
• 1300-1600 THA BOD Meeting, Southern Pacific E & F
• 1800-2100 Welcome to Reunion Groups Reception (no host) – Pavilions A through E
  

Friday, 5 September 2008

• 0730-1200 Golf Tournament – Wildcreek G.C., Sparks, NV and Northgate G.C., Reno, NV
  • Buses depart from the Nugget main entrance at 0600 and 0645. Breakfast available at the golf courses. Shotgun start at 0730 (lunch included).
• 0800-1200 Round Robin Tennis Tournament – Reno Tennis Center. 
• Buses depart from the Nugget main entrance at 0715
  
•  0830-1330 NAS Fallon Tour

 

Bus departs from Nugget Hotel East Exit, Bus Transportation Area

• 0830-1330 Lake Tahoe Tour (lunch included)

Bus departs from Nugget Hotel East Exit, Bus Transportation Area

• 0930-1400 Tahoe Ridge Winery Tour (lunch included) –

Bus departs from Nugget Hotel East Exit, Bus Transportation Area

• 0830-2100 Tailhook Ship’s Store Open - Pavilion A Foyer
• 0900-2100 Registration – Nugget Hotel, Pavilion A Foyer
• 1000-2100 Exhibits Open – Pavilions A through E
  

FRIDAY SYMPOSIUM- Rose A Ballroom

• 1030-1200 Industry Panel on Future Carrier Systems
  • RDML McMahon, PEO Carriers (CAPT “Drako” Drake, USNR lead)
• 1400-1500 BUPERS UPDATE – CAPT Kevin Scott, PERS43  
• 1515-1630 Landing Signal Officer’s: Past, Present and Future

• Moderator CAPT Sterling “Sterls” Gilliam, CVW-9
• LSO from the 40's & 50's (Straight Deck Experiences)
• LSO from the 60's & 70's (27C Experiences & Vietnam Combat Waving)

 

• LSO from the 70's & 80's (Transitions from F-4's/F-8's to F-14's and F-18's, etc)
• LSO from the 90's (Desert Storm stories - improvements in equipment)
• Current LSO (Recent waving experiences)

 

 

 

 

 

• 1630-1700 Membership Meeting – Rose A Ballroom
• 1800-2100 Bug Roach Mixer, Pavilions A through E and Rose B Ballroom. Flight suits encouraged.

 

Saturday, 6 September 2008

• 0530-1200 Balloon Race Shuttle
• 0730-0830 Tailhook 5K Fun Run - Buses depart from the Nugget main entrance at 0700
• 0830-1500 Tailhook Ship’s Store Open - Pavilion A Foyer
• 0830-1500 Registration – Pavilion A Foyer
• 0830-1500 Exhibits Open – Pavilions A through E
• 0930-1100 Special Event – “Cabaret Behind the Scenes,” Celebrity Showroom
  

SATURDAY SYMPOSIUM - Rose A Ballroom

• 0900-1015 N88 Plans for the Future
  • Moderator RDML Ken “Pink” Floyd, N880 or CAPT Larry Burt, N880C, Head Strike Aircraft Plans and Programs -Panel Members –Strike Aircraft Plans and Programs Requirements Officers
    
• 1030-1145 Reflections on Real World Operations, Moderator
  • RDML Scott “Notso” Swift - Panel of Warfighters giving their perspectives on current operations, to include recent CV deployment and IA’s.
    
• 1200-1330 RADM “Jig Dog” Ramage Recognition Luncheon, Rose B Ballroom

 

• 1400-1545 Aviation Flag Panel
  • Moderator – VADM Tom “Killer” Kilcline, CNAF
    
  • VADM Dave “DJ” Venlet, NAVAIR; LTGEN Trautman, Deputy Commandant for Aviation; RADM Mark “Waldo” Emerson, NSAWC; RADM John “Goody” Goodwin, CNAL; RDML Ken “Pink” Floyd, N88; RDML Pat McGrath, CNAFR; RDML Mark “Guads” Guadagnini, CNATRA
    
• 1500 Exhibits Close – Dismantle and Pack Up
• 1800-1930 Tailhook Pre-Banquet Reception (no host) – Rose A and B Foyer
• 1930-2200 Tailhook Banquet
  • Semi-Formal (Jacket and tie for men, Cocktail dress for women), Rose A and B Ballroom,
•  Guest Speaker, Admiral Robert “Rat” Willard, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet
  

Sunday 7 September 2008

• Breakfast available at Rosie's Coffee Shop, Rotisserie Buffet, or Starbucks.

Another Recap from the Tailhook National '07

From LCDR Kevin "Proton" McLaughlin (Colorado Strike Force)

Back from all the hard work and lack of fun in Reno this past weekend.  For those concerned, my liver transplant yesterday was successful, but I am rapidly running out of tee-totaling benefactors in the greater Colorado Springs area.  If you know of any organ donors, please pass along their info.

The event was a HUGE success.  Over 2500 registered attendees (and many,
many more "unregistered") and the largest airlift support contingent
since 1991--over 350 active duty personnel from both the East and West
coasts. 

The highlights, as always, were the Bug Roach mixer on Friday night and the Flag Panel on Saturday.  The mixer had over 1,400 folks in the large banquet room and easily another 1,000 in the admin suites surrounding the space.  For the number of people and amount of "conviviality" there were surprisingly ZERO incidents.  VFA-122 and VFA-125 shared an admin suite and it was going STRONG when I went up to bed just prior to 0600 on Saturday morning (which, incidentally, made Saturday one of the longest hangover days on record--somebody call Guinness for me).

The Flag panel was chaired by VADM Kilcline (AIRPAC/Air Boss), and consisted of (left to right on your radio dial) RDML "Guads" Gaudagnini(CNATRA), BGEN "Whaler" Walsh (DC Aviation), RADM "Waldo" Emerson (NSAWC), VADM "DJ" Venlett (NAVSYSCOM), RADM "Goody" Goodwin (AIRLANT), RADM "Santee" Clingan (N88), and RADM Jeff Lemmons (CNAFR).  Some solid,pointed questions were tossed at them with the primary recurring theme of letting "Jointness" take over Naval Aviation (my fellow Joint-serving O-4's feel that particular pain) at the seeming expense of Tactical development and leadership.  All-in-all, a good solid exchange between the crowd and the Flags.

Colorado attendees included Hans and Kathy Schmoldt from GJT, Spook
McFillen, Black Bart Flaherty (who got the crowd in a frenzy with a
pointed question to the Flag panel--NICE WORK!), Lipper Lee, Rusty
Barber, Dick Trickle, and yours truly.  If I forgot anyone, I apologize--if we chatted, you were probably looking at/talking to my evil twin Neutron.

Finally, the speaker at the Banquet was Gene Cernan, retired CAPT and the LAST man to set foot on the moon.  An UNBELIEVABLE speaker, aviator,astronaut, and gentlemen.  He brought a PowerPoint brief with him that
had his own personal pictures from Apollo XVII and they were astounding.

He got very choked up a few times, but none
more so than in his final remarks when he said that of all the groups / societies/ associations he is associated with, the one he is most proud of is the fraternity of Naval Aviation.

Hear, hear.

 

Thanks Proton [Ed.]