Dear Tomcat Flyers, Fixers, and Fans
The 2015 reunion is fast approaching! We are 6 weeks from launch time in beautiful Pensacola Florida. A few details have been added to the agenda below, but I urge to register, and get your hotel and airline reservations now. Six weeks out is the best time to book, so don’t delay.
First, I am proud and excited to announce that the planned speaker at the Saturday banquet is RADM Mike “Nasty” Manazir. A west coast Tomcat driver who went on to command the Tomcatters of Fighter Squadron, USS Sacramento (AOE1), USS Nimitz (CVN68) and Carrier Strike Group 8 embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Nasty is currently the Director, Air Warfare (OPNAV N98) where he is responsible for the development, programming, and budgeting of all U.S. Naval aviation warfighting requirements, resourcing and manpower. He is/was qualified in the F-14A/D and F/A-18E/F aircraft and has flown more than 3750 hours and 1200 arrested landings during 15 deployments aboard aircraft carriers on both coasts. I can’t think of a better person to talk to us about the state of Naval Aviation than RADM Mike Manazir.
Second, I want to thank Training Air Wing SIX Commodore, Captain Ted “Tag” Heflin. Tag spent 12 years in the Tomcat community with VF-102, SWATSLANT, VF-32, and VF-103. As the current Commodore at Pensacola, Tag has graciously volunteered to support our group with special events on base on both Wednesday, after the Blue Angel’s practice, and Friday afternoon, with a TW-6 winging ceremony in the National Naval Aviation Museum atrium where RDML Roy "Trigger" Kelley, CNATRA -- a former Tomcat pilot and VF-102 CO -- is the planned guest speaker for the winging ceremony, to be followed by a TW-6 winging Ceremony reception at the Mustin Beach Club. Those that prefer may continue to tour the museum until time to return to the hotel.
The panel discussions promise to be very lively. Tom Reilly is confirmed to tell the story of aircraft#1’s fateful last flight, and we are organizing other panels that promise to be both interesting and stimulating.
Hampton Inn and Suites on Pensacola Beach
Room Reservations: 1-800-320-8108
(Ask for Group Reservations – F-14 Association)
Gulf Front with Balcony – $179, South Side Rooms - $149
The current flight schedule is:
| TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015 | |
| Early arrival check-in at the Hampton Inn and Suites on Pensacola Beach | |
| 1800-2000 | Happy hour at the Hampton Inn |
| WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2015 | |
| 1130 | Blue Angel practice show onboard NAS Pensacola ( Schedule varies) |
| 1200-1800 | Reunion Registration in hotel lobby at the Hampton Inn |
| 1230-1430 | TW-6 hosted brief/tour of current CNATRA training (T-6/T-45 static displays and tour of VMTS/MCS simulators) and VT-86 Ready Room social |
| 1600-1800 | Welcome Aboard Happy Hour |
| 1800-2000 | F-14 Association Reunion Welcome Reception |
| THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015 | |
| 0700-0830 | Complimentary breakfast at the Hampton Inn |
| 0900 | Board trolleys for tour of Historic Downtown Pensacola |
| 1030 | Memorial Service at the Veteran's Memorial Park with the NAS Color Guard |
| 1115 | Lunch at McGuire's Irish Pub with the Color Guard |
| 1330 | Board trolleys for the Hampton Inn |
| 1400 | Arrive back at the Hampton Inn |
| 1630 |
Happy Hour and Panel Discussion |
| 2000 |
Squadron reunions/group dinners as desired |
| FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 | |
| 0700-0830 | Complimentary breakfast at the Hampton Inn |
| 0830 | Board trolley for NAS Pensacola |
| 0900 | Arrive at the National Naval Aviation Museum -- Guided tour of the Museum |
| 1045 | Group Picture |
| 1100 | Lunch at the Cubi Bar inside the Museum |
| 1200 | Free time to browse in Hangar Bay One |
| 1250 | IMAX movie |
| 1400-1500 | TW-6 winging ceremony in the National Naval Aviation Museum |
| 1400 | Optional - Tour of the virtual flight deck and the museum's upstairs |
| 1500 - 1600 | Optional - TW-6 winging Ceremony reception at the Mustin Beach Club |
| 1615 | Board trolley for return to the Hampton Inn |
| 1645 | Trolley arrives at the Hampton Inn |
| Evening | Pub Crawl in Downtown Pensacola and time for mini Squadron Reunions |
| SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2015 | |
| 0700-0900 | Complimentary breakfast at the Hampton Inn |
| 0800-0900 | General Business Meeting |
| 0930 | Board trolley for the Marina |
| 1000 | Board the Chase N Fins |
| 1200 | Arrive back at the Marina |
| 1215 | Picnic lunch at the Marina |
| 1300 | Board trolley for return to the Hampton Inn |
| 1330 | Trolley arrives at the Hampton Inn |
| 1800 | Trolley leaves for the Officer's Club onboard NAS Pensacola |
| 1830 |
Arrival at the Mustin Beach Club and banquet dinner |
| 2100 | Trolley leaves for the Hampton Inn |
| SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2015 | |
| 0700-0900 | Complimentary breakfast at the Hampton Inn |
| 1200 | Check-out from the Hampton Inn |
Please help us get the word out. Send this email to all of your friends and squadron-mates.
Sincerely/ Mike “Rabies” Rabens
President, F-14 Tomcat Association
Always, Baby
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Your Board of Directors is:
Captain Mike "Rabies" Rabens (USN Ret.) – President This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Captain Mark "Beaver" Swaney (USN Ret.) - Vice President and Acting Secretary This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Captain Rob "Udog" Underwood (USNR Ret.) – Treasurer This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Captain Jim "Crunch" Hineline (USN) - Fleet Representative This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dave "Hey Joe" Parsons - East Coast Representative This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Commander Bryan "Spot" Kust (USN Ret.) - West Coast Representative This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
AMS Mike O'Brien - Maintainer Representative, West This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ADJ Jamie Barnhard - Maintainer Representative, East This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mission: To Preserve the History of the Greatest Fighter Jet the United States Navy Has Ever Flown.