Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Associaton Convention-Orlando, Florida

[SASless]

How many other PPRUNER's going to the VHPA Convention in Orlando next weekend?

Should we find a private corner of the bar to gather?

If Nick Lappos is going.....I will attempt to convince him to partake of some adult malt beverages despite his being a renown TeeTotaller of some fame.

[Heliport]

SASless
Why not post some more details in case some of our members don't know where or when etc.

[SASless]

The 20th Annual Reunion of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association (VHPA) will be held at the Rosen Centre Hotel from 2 July-6 July in Orlando, Florida.

People interested in the details of the events and activities.....and other information regarding the VHPA and helicopters in combat in Vietnam can access the official website of the association by clicking on the Association badge:
http://www.vhpa.org/images/vhpalogo.gif (http://www.vhpa.org)


The VHPA was founded in 1984 in by 66 former Vietnam combat pilots and has now grown to 12,107 members out of a known total number of combat pilots of 29,636 who are eligible are/were eligible for membership. Our association supports historical projects regarding helicopter operations in combat during the Vietnam War and provides a means for people who served to stay in contact with their friends from years before.

Normal attendance is about 2,500 members each year.

If you qualify.....and membership is not limited to US Military pilots only.....you ought to join in the activities of the Association. If you know someone who qualifies and is not a member....pass on the information. It tends to be a very large beer bash....we meet annually to prove to ourselves that we can still drink too much....only difference is recovery time seems to be growing each year.

I guess Nick Lappos has the last laugh on us now that he is such a dedicated TeeTotaller.:ok:

[SASless]

Heliport,

I survived another VHPA Reunion....it was a fierce fought affair in Orlando this year. Weather was cooperative, the hotel was excellent, the beer was plentiful and cold, no war stories were told, all the other attendees have gotten even older, balder, and fatter.....whereas I on the other hand remain unchanged from my combat weight .

Attendance was very good this year and for once....the vast majority of the members were billeted in the same hotel in which the functions were held. We had a Bell Huey and a Hughes Loach (500C to the unwashed) on static display. Day trips for golf, visits to the Kennedy Space Center, 5K run-walk-stagger, and nightly entertainment filled the scarce free time away from the bar.

We enjoyed a very lively Fourth of July celebration at the hotel swimming pool complete with the required hamburgers and hotdogs. The fireworks and laser light show was excellent....although the choice of green and red lasers had some of us looking for something to hide behind for a bit. The WOC Chorus put on a brief show....during the band's break which made for a bit of nostalgia.

The final banquet featured a Police Bagpipe band, Vietnamese Military Color Guard, and a "Missing Man" ceremony in memory of those killed during the war while serving as Helicopter Pilots.

Next year's reunion is set for Fort Worth, Texas and should be a good time as well. My group will crash at a local friend's place....and travel to the events by Limo....while being escorted by dancers from the Dallas Gentleman's Club....(being identified by us old geezers as being "trophy wives") !

One of the bartenders was heard to remark......that he had never seen so much beer disappear so quickly as during our Reunion.....Crikey...he should have seen us in our prime!:ok:

[B Sousa]

Sounds like all had a good time....as usual. Im still looking for a few classmates from my class 70-28. I do have a list of many that I have recently made contact with. However time marches on....
For those who have not been back to Ft Worth in Years, dont miss next years party as Im sure there will be a trip to "Mecca" Ft Wolters.
I flew through there earlier this year in a B206L3. What was neat was finding one of the old primary stage fields where I soloed in an OH-23. Needless to say I straffed the old grass overun field with a nice wing over and Im sure the farmers around were saying there goes another one of those old idiots that used to drink up all our booze and chase our daughters.
Memories are great. I just wish a few more of the guys I flew with were around to enjoy them.