USAF Helicopter Pilot Association

Reunion 1998

USAFHPA

Reunion 1998 Information

Reunion #8 – October 21-25, 1998 – Orlando, Florida

There were over 300 folks that attended the Orlando reunion. Planning and running the reunion was a little bit like a fraternity initiation; something you wouldn’t want to have missed but wouldn’t want to do over again. Our small group really appreciated the comments of those that attended, and it was a real pleasure to see everyone again.

The reunion started out on October 21^st with early registration and refreshments at the Hospitality Room. On Thursday, October 22^nd more folks arrived and registered. USAFHPA windbreaker jackets were available for the members. A golf tournament was scheduled for the duffers. The afternoon and evening were open for local activities. With DisneyWorld, Sea World, Toys-R-Us, shopping mall and other attractions nearby, many folks took the advantage to visit the sights.

Friday morning found several busses loaded with members on their way to the Kennedy Space Center for a day of touring. It was quite a treat and the enormous size of the Apollo and Saturn space rockets on display was breathtaking. We even got to view, in the distance, the Space Shuttle that John Glenn was to make his second orbital flight in a week. The International Space Station Center and IMAX Theater were interesting and exciting. The evening was open for relaxing and visiting after the day’s tour.

Saturday morning, the membership business meeting was held. There was a discussion on setting up a web site for the organization. The unit historian, K.V. Hall, gave a review of the history of the organization, which was of particular benefit to new members. Harry Dunn emceed a "This is Your Life" Roast for the originator of the "Ten Commandments for Helicopter Pilots", Joe Kusy. At the same time, the wives were invited to attend the Ming Court cooking class that featured Chinese cuisine. The afternoon was open for more tours or visiting by the members. The evening banquet was quite a show with a Barbershop Quartet and the "Red Hot Mama" singer from Disneyworld entertaining us throughout the evening.

The post-reunion cruise was the icing on the cake with over 40 rooms booked. The ship left Port Canaveral on October 25^th for a four-day cruise.

Your central Florida members are looking forward to the next get-together in 2000, which will be in Phoenix, Arizona.

Information taken from newsletters and other sources. Kyron Hall, historian.