We built it and they came—legends like VADM Jim Stockdale and R.G. Smith, organizations like VF-12 and Air Group 92, "type commands" such as the A-4 and F-8 outfits. But most of all, active-duty aviators from across ConUS turned up to listen, learn and ultimately to inform and inspire their seniors. Tailhook remains the JOs' organization of choice, and that attitude was best demonstrated by one hard-charging squadron skipper who told his troops, "Go to Hook!"
The 41st Tailhook Reunion was held at the Nugget Hotel in Reno, Nev., on 46 September 1997, with more than 750 members and guests attending. The practice of other reunion organizations "piggybacking" with Tailhook contributed to the total, as the Skyhawk and Crusader gatherings were held at the same time. Reno's balloon race added spectacle to the occasion—more than a few members decided to stay over for the following week's famous Reno Air Races that featured highly modified warbirds.
Tailhook President CAPT Lonnie "Eagle" McClung opened the annual membership meeting Friday afternoon by introducing new board members Bill Cannon and CDR Greg "Shifty" Peairs. Eagle also noted that director CAPT John "J.R." Davis had resigned from the board to relieve our current executive director, CAPT Tom Finley in October. Treasurer CAPT Cal Swanson explained that our 1996 deficit improved compared to 1995. "We are very close to 'black ink,'" Swanson commented. He then announced he was retiring after nine years as "keeper of the coin," being relieved by CDR Jim Oliver.
CAPT Bill Knutson announced six $1,500 scholarships were awarded this year, with the further good news that the Tailhook Foundation now is represented in the Combined Federal Campaign for charitable donations. By designating organization #2965 on their CFC form, members may funnel their gifts to the Foundation. Because a $25,000 endowment will fund a $1,500 scholarship in perpetuity, he reminded members to include the Foundation in their grants and wills.
Membership Chairman CAPT "Bullet Bob" Canepa and CAPT Bud Orr discussed membership and recruiting, point out that while membership numbers are down slightly from last year, the Association is still within reach of substantive increases in membership. The funds that come with a 10 percent growth would open many options to the Association, they observed, and added that birthday or Christmas gift memberships are a great idea. Canepa and Orr challenged each member to sign up a new or former member in the coming year.
CAPT Bob Dosé, grandfather of one of the scholarship recipients, rose to ask if anyone had carqual'd prior to 1937. No one had, and as "senior bagger present," Bob fittingly observed the 60th anniversary of his first trap in company with his son, MiG-killer Curt Dosé.
CAPT Bob "Bubbles" Nordgren detailed the Association's America OnLine site, as well as the forthcoming Tailhook directory and Association history, both of which are currently in production.
McClung and COL Marv Garrison had good news in the form of the Marine Corps JAG letter chopped through the Secretary of Defense's office specifying there were no prohibitions to Marine Tailhook membership or participation. Garrison, our Leatherneck member of the board, is keeping active in communicating with most senior Marine Aviators. Additionally, with Miramar about to become an MCAS, Garrison pointed out that we will have better opportunities to associate with our brethren in green.
A large crowd gathered Friday evening for the "Bug" Roach flight suit mixer, a lively event that had the room buzzing up to closing time with "remember when" stories and "what is he doing now?" questions. The gathering adjourned to the nearby ready room and continued to the wee hours.
Saturday's symposia began with Jim Brooke explaining "Midway Magic," the plan to move CV-41 from Bremerton to prime waterfront property in San Diego. The boxes have been checked at city and state level, leaving only SecNav approval for the tentative opening of a unique West Coast exhibit early in 1999. Meanwhile, the outlook is good for Hornet (CV-12) to be preserved at Alameda.
A fascinating look at vectored thrust was provided by Roger Smith and Ed Schneider from NASA's Dryden Flight Test Center. Obviously self-admitted "zealots for thrust vectoring," they presented a video of the eye-watering capabilities of a modified F-15, F-16, and F/A-18, as well as the X-31 technology demonstrator. The Hornet multi-axis thrust vectoring uses three vanes on each engine, permitting 70 degrees AOA and "carefree" flight characteristics up to .7 Mach. Tactics development is currently under way should procurement czars introduce this exciting technology to the fleet. It will definitely change the way that close-in dog fighting is done!
A look at the Joint Strike Fighter proposal came from two industry giants—Lockheed Martin and Boeing McDonnell Douglas. Lockheed VP Dave "Gremlin" Wheaton traced the evolution of the JSF from AFX and JAST to the current 51-month concept demonstration phase. With near-identical airframes among the three versions, Gremlin quipped that the "A" (USAF), "B" (USMC/RN), and "C" (USN) models stand for "asphalt, beach, and carrier." The total buy is expected to be 2,912, including 669 Bravos and 480 Charlies, all featuring better acceleration than the F/A-18, and with internal-fuel ranges comparable to current birds with drop tanks.
Dennis Muilenburg described the Boeing entry. The recent addition of support from McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis will make them a strong contender. With a 450-600-mi. tactical radius, the Boeing JSF will feature four hardpoints (two "wet") and a $28 to $38 million flyaway cost. A blended delta configuration with twin tails, Boeing's design includes a common wing for all three models with adaptability to a second cockpit. The proposed aircraft would have twice the fuel of an F-16, and two birds will fit on all CV elevators without a folding wing.
Briefers explained that both JSF concepts emphasize affordability, survivability, lethality and supportability. Fleet introduction is expected in 2008, by which time the selected design also may be enhanced with thrust vectoring.
McClung kicked off the recognition luncheon by acknowledging active-duty attendees and especially Horst Feder, a Luftwaffe pilot all the way from Hamburg, Germany.
Again this year, the Central Coast (California) Chapter of the Navy League presented the Bug Roach LSO of the Year Award to LT Chris Bolt, formerly CVW-3 senior staff LSO and now OinC of the Navy's LSO School at NAS Oceana, with Rob Bryn of San Luis Obispo, Calif., doing the honors. Additionally, Bill Cannon received the Association's Top Hook award for recruiting 87 new members in 1996. Small wonder that he has joined the board of directors, and already has been named membership chairman!
Proving that operational security works at Tailhook, Eagle surprised long-time stalwarts Wynn Foster and Cal Swanson with Lifetime Achievement awards for their contributions as board chairman and treasurer, respectively. The two Oriskany (CVA-34) shipmates have been pillars of our Association through good times and bad—a fact rousingly acknowledged by the standing ovation accorded both.
Delivering the luncheon address, VADM Bill Houser described the 1942 Battle of Midway as "must win" for the U.S. Recounting the course of the pivotal event, Houser further demonstrated the battle's importance to the current Navy, as his Annapolis Class of '42 has sponsored a memorial at the Naval Academy and supported a growing tradition of "Midway Night" events across the country. Houser wrapped up his stirring presentation with the conclusion that the Navy isn't in business as a job program—its job is to fight when called upon, and to win!
The afternoon symposia resumed with Bob Pergler of Raytheon TI Systems briefing the AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon program. Originating in 1985, Texas Instrument's interest in the concept has grown to include anti-armor, precision strike and the planned addition of propulsion and alternative payloads. Described as a multi-kill, single-attack weapon, JSOW offers a low-altitude release from 12 nautical miles to a high-altitude range of 40 nautical miles. It has flown on the F/A-18, and is being tested on the F-15E, F-16 and the B-52. Pergler pointed out, though, that the B-2 may be the first aircraft to be operational with this exciting new weapon.
Next on the schedule was a brief on the F/A-18E/F by CAPT Fields Richardson, former "Strike U" skipper and 1994 Tailhooker of the Year. Working with McAir's Super Hornet program, Richardson noted that the E/F will have 90 percent commonality of avionics, with current models with 35 to 50 percent more range owing to 3,600 pounds more internal fuel and two additional wing stations. An attractive feature, he stated, is the Super Hornet's increase in ordnance "bring-back" weight. Richardson stressed, "The E/F will win the war five times faster than the C model," and is expected to be operational in 2001, with its first deployment the following year. The program is well under way, with its first flight occurring a month early and delivery at 715 pounds below specified weight.
A new industry member, Symvionics, was represented by company vice president Rich Weeks, who described the carrier on-board landing simulator. The modular unit may be configured for almost any aircraft, with replaceable seat, stick, throttle and instrument panels, plus an option for a second cockpit. Self-contained and operating off ship's power, the simulator can be stored overhead in the hangar deck when not in use, and put on a motion base when ashore.
The final event of the afternoon was an issues panel with active-duty aviators, NFOs and recent retirees receiving questions. Commented one Hornet driver addressing a question about women in the Navy, "What you hear is from a vocal minority." Other fleet operators endorsed that sentiment, noting that a female aviator's landing performance earned her designation as CVW-11's Top Nugget. CAPT Shifty Peairs, formerly XO of Lincoln (CVN-72), noted "no degradation in combat readiness," and in fact stated that top performance among female sailors often leads to greater efforts from the men.
CAPT Bud Orr, who worked on the presidential commission that delt with roles of women in combat, noted that the final report concluded that women should be excluded from ground warfare, but could be assigned to combatant vessels. The commission, however, was split on females in air combat. Orr speculated on the unpredictable public reaction to inevitable CNN coverage of women POWs in future conflicts.
TraCom JO panelists commented that there is sometimes a perceived double standard for women and minorities. All on the board stressed the need for a truly "level playing field," with strict adherence to one standard rather than politically correct exceptions for preferred groups. The sentiment was summarized by an LSO who wryly observed, "The ramp is gender-neutral."
Junior officer on the panel stated they would love more participation with the Tailhook Association, especially if their COs would "crawl out of the foxhole." If active flags participated in forums as before—where JOs could ask specific questions about operational and career topics— "we'd be back in droves." It's apparent, stated the panel, that the word needs to get to the fleet that there are no prohibitions on Tailhook membership or participating in its events, such as the symposium. Support by COs will be critical to future Tailhook conventions, they added.
In order to improve Association representation in the fleet, panelists suggested airliners be chartered to transport active duty folks from distant air stations, and to establish a "squadron of the month" on the association's web page.
As before, op tempo was a major concern. One F/A-18 pilot panelist said he was away from his family for 29 of 36 months. But despite "doing more with less," most fleet operators seem willing to stay as long as they can fly enough. "If you're flying, you're happy," he commented. But he went on to say that onerous collateral duty (especially paper-shuffling) seems a sure-fire avenue to the exit. RADM Dave "Snake" Morris opined that more flight hour and spares funding is on the way, but will not kick in until 1999.
Asked about JO "career survival" in a politically correct generation, many active duty panelists felt they need to see moral courage at all levels. "Judge us on our performance ... we want both the good news and the bad ... lead, not run for cover" were sentiments that received wide endorsement by the audience.
At conclusion of the symposia, Tailhookers shopped among exhibitors, including the ever-present Hank Caruso's ForeFeathers, Flying Glass Blasters, Hit the Deck, Laser Guidance, Midway Magic, the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, MBNA of America, the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, R.G. Smith Art (with R.G. himself in an immensely popular appearance), the Stokes Collection, plus authors Robert Gandt and Bill McMichael.
Capping the sellout banquet (25 chairs were added to the back of the ballroom to accommodate the 540 attendees) was ADM Leighton W. Smith, honored as 1997 Tailhooker of the Year. Knighted by Queen Elizabeth for his leadership of NATO's 35-nation commitment to Bosnia, "Sir Snuffy" delivered a delightful mixture of rural wisdom with practical advice for carrier aviators, emphasizing the pride and professionalism of the tailhook community. With self-deprecating humor ("I made the upper 95 percent of my class (long pause) look good"), ADM Smith reflected on his own career as a mirror of what so many aviators experience today. He stated frankly, "The zero-defect policy scares the hell out of me," adding that JOs should be expected to make mistakes and to learn from them, or the system will breed only mediocrity.
ADM Smith stressed that just as the World War II and Vietnam generations were supported by their mentors, now-retired aviators should support the current leadership—"Those youngsters that we trained and brought up in our business. Frankly, I became non-current on the issues the day I retired." He also encouraged active and retired alike to attend the symposium and listen to the JOs.
Finally, Smith observed that carrier aviation is a place where you start each day on the brink of disaster, but survive by depending upon each other. He concluded, "I can't imagine doing anything else with my life." And neither could any of the active or retired men and women at Tailhook '97.