This event is closed.

 

Sorry you missed it. But do check out our website at www.f4phantom.com for coming events and membership information.

GUEST SPEAKER
Col Ric Hunter USAF (Ret)
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PhanCon is an annual international gathering of folks who flew, maintained, supported, photographed, tracked, modeled, or just plain enjoyed the sound of freedom promoted by this premier fighter of the 70's,  80's and 90's.  Now celebrating over 50 years in action, the F-4  is still flying today in defense of many nations around the world, and while no longer on the front line in the US, she still serves an important role there too.  

We get together to share stories, re-establish old friendships, examine memorabilia,  and  when possible view the F-4 in action.   Our primary purpose is preserving the heritage of the F-4, and this PhanCon is just but one of the endeavors the F-4 Phantom II Society supports.   One does not need to be a member of the Society to attend, although we encourage you to join the Society in support.

This year we are returning to one of our favorite spots, Tyndall AFB, FL. This is very likely the last time we will visit Tyndall since QRF-4 operations will be shutting down in the near future as the QF-16 takes over the drone role. 

Our conference headquarters will be at the Holiday Inn Select hotel in Panama Beach. On the schedule are of course visits to Tyndall and the QF-4 and F-22 operations, and maybe QF-16 test ops too. We should again get to see F-4's in the air, hear the sound, and smell the JP-4.  Great memories reawakened await you. Join us!

Hotel

We have discount rates set up at our primary hotel, the Holiday Inn Select.    $83/nite, good from Oct 18th through Oct 26th.   The hotel has an all you can eat breakfast buffet for $6.95.
  
Note, by law all rooms are non-smoking. There should be smoking areas provided outside.

Schedule

General gameplan is sign-in on Monday (noon on till 10PM), two full day of events at Tyndall on Tues and Wed to see the F-4s, get some photo ops, etc etc, with Thursday morning and afternoon free, finishing up with banquet that evening.  Vendor and hospitality area will be open in the evenings.  Lunches on Tuesday and Wednesday will be included.  

{tentative schedule subject to change}

Monday, 20 Oct

 1200-2200 Sign in 
 1530-1700 Meet n Greet in hotel lounge.  2 for 1 drinks, mini-Taco bar, chicken wings, etc, just for attendees. Private affair.
 1800-1900 PhanCon In-brief, S.O.P.  (Mall Room)

Tuesday, 21 Oct

 0745 Board Buses (remember two photo IDs.. and sunscreen!)
 0900 53 WEG brief by Col. Scott Ward, CC 53rd WEG
 1000 Depart for QF-4 Ramp
         82nd ATRS Death Row.  Several launch, recoveries of QF-4s
 1115 F-4 Functional Check Flight (FCF)

 1130-1230 lunch at Bonita Bay with the Det hosting a Shrimp Boil, burgers and salad. 

 1330-1445 82 ARTS Watercraft Ops for Sub-Scale Recovery Demo
 1445 RTB to Hot Ramp. Expect two more QF-4 flights.  Six members at a time get to ride in and observe from GMCS van.  
 1630 RTB Holiday Inn
 1800-2200 Hospitality (Room 117) and Vendor rooms open 

Wednesday, 22 Oct

 0800 Board Buses for 53 WEGS auditorium, briefing.
 1030-1145  325 FW / Tour F-22 Raptor ops.

 1200 Lunch at the Heritage Club

 1330 Depart for 82nd ATRA Full Scale Drone facility
 1430 QF-4 FCF
 1600 Depart for 82nd ARTS Heritage Room and Ford Theater for "PHANCON Salute"
 1700 Depart for Hotel
 1800-2400 Hospitality and Vendor Room open 

Thursday, 23 Oct

  Morning and afternoon free for sightseeing.  (see suggestions further below)

  BANQUET
  1800-1900 Cocktails 
  1900 Dinner and Business Meeting, Election of Officers
  2030  Guest Speaker:  Colonel Ric Hunter, USAF (ret)
  2130-2230 Hospitality room open
  2130-2230 Vendors area open
  2400 PhanCon closes 

PhanCon Registration

Registrations are now closed.  

Banquet only reservations may still be made via this link until Oct 16th.  http://phancon-2014-banquet.ezregister.com 

(please read carefully before registering)

You may register at one time all members of your family/group that are attending the full event, if you are paying for all of them.  This website will first let you register the primary attendee, and then provide a "register again" link to add another person. Repeat as necessary.     

When you register you will be given the opportunity to create a personal account with EZregister.  Doing so does not add you to any mailing lists. 

Please do make sure you carefully read the waiver at the end of the registration. If registering others make sure they know what you have agreed to on their behalf. 

Preferred payment is via Credit Card or a PayPal account via a PayPal secure payment.  

You may also elect to pay by check or money order if you register by  Sep 19th.  You will be emailed an invoice and the check must be received by the 26th or the registration may be cancelled.

You will have an opportunity to enter "Comments".  These comments will be posted on the website in the attendee list by your name.  Attendees at past PhanCons have asked that we share with each other our connection to the F-4.  So please use this public comment box to enter what you did, where/with whom, and when you did it.

The attendee list will also show your name, city, state and country.  You may opt out of having your name, etc listed. Look for a small checkbox during registration allowing that.  Note, we can not later change that option for you.  

If you have any problems registering or paying please contact Registrations. 

Because you will be visiting restricted areas you may be asked for  personal information during the registration process to include your SSN or Passport, birthdate, Drivers License, etc. This information will be provided to the USAF authorities in advance of our visit. It will be kept private and not shared otherwise. We utilize EZregister because of the strict security precautions they have in place.  Note, the USAF will conduct background checks and we have had in the past at least one person denied access due to an outstanding warrant. IDs will be scanned during entry to the base.

As you go through the questions please pay close attention to what is asked for as Active and Retired US Military with current IDs are treated differently.  Accurate information in the proper format is required. Do help us out by taking the time to read the guidance carefully.  

General public registration this year will be $155.   

Members receive a special rate of $140. Membership must be current through Oct 23rd. Immediate family receive the same discount. Not sure if you are current? Just log in to your member account on www.f4phantom.com and check, or contact our  administrator and ask.  

And of course, if you are not a member, why not?  'tis only $20 a year and you get free access to SmokeTrails published during that year.  Simply establish a free account on *www.f4phantom.com and then join the Society to receive member benefits.  With the PhanCon discount you effectively receive membership for $5.

Banquet Thursday Night (and guests for the Banquet only)

IMPORTANT  The cost of the banquet is separate from the basic registration fee so if you plan to attend be sure to buy your banquet tickets during registration.  Cost is $35.

For those who only wish to attend the banquet a simplified registration page is available here. We don't need all the personal info required for base access. Also use that link for all banquet reservations made after registration closes.

Deadlines:  

Tyndall has set a deadline of three weeks prior to the event for a roster to be sent to them to allow sufficient time for background checks.. 
 
We advise all to bring two forms of government issued photo ID.  If you are US Military or US Military Retired please bring that ID. Non-US Citizens please include your passport.  A drivers license is good for the second ID.

If you wish to reserve a space or get more information please contact our Vendor Coordinator via this email address: Email Coordinator.  

Transportation

  The closest major airport is Northwest Florida Beaches Intl (ECP).
There are numerous taxi and shuttle services available from there.  There is also this company, VeteranShuttle {$50/5 pax}.  
To coordinate a van or taxi feel free to register on www.f4phantom.com and use the Forums there.  
For those of you renting a car local folks say there is a shortcut that takes only about 30 min.. take the south airport exit and head down to 388, and then east to 77 and then south.

Places to visit on Thursday

USAF Armament Museum  , Eglin AFB (94 miles, 2 hour drive) Opens at 9:30.  
St. Andrews State Park 
Ripley's Believe It or Not
Gulf World Marine Park
Bay Point Golf Call ahead, identify yourself as being with the PhanCon and you can get preferred rates and T-times, per Mr Jim Carlisle, Dir. of Golf.
Pier Park - shopping, eating, relaxin'

Events in the local Florida and nearby areas to consider:

This year, the USAF Thunderbirds are scheduled in Melbourne, FL on Oct 4th-5th. Then a week later they move up to Daytona Beach Oct 11^th-12th. Then on to Rome, GA Oct 18^th-19^th.

 In addition, the Blue Angels are scheduled in Jacksonville, FL., Oct 25^th – 26^th. Then close it out in Pensacola Nov 7^th-9^th.

Additionally, the Stewart Air Show, Stewart, Florida, is set for Nov 1st and 2nd, 2014. It is their 25th Annual Stuart Air Show. An AV-8B “Harrier” demonstration is scheduled plus a bunch of other aerial performers including Aero Shell’s Acrobatic Team. The “Harrier” is scheduled to come in from Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. From the Stewart website the cost is; SINGLE DAY GENERAL ADMISSION PASS $15 Pre-Sale / $20 Gate  All USA Military Veterans & USA Active Military have FREE ADMISSION just by bringing a copy their DD214 or active military ID.

Alternate lodging for US military

  RV's  Raptor Ranch  Tyndall AFB FamCamp

  Air Force Inn at Tyndall  

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* www.f4phantom.com  is our home website.  Feel free to visit, and if you want to particpate in any of the public forums there, register.  'Tis free.  

  Our members also have accounts there and have access to more forums, plus receive free PDF issues of Smoke Trails.  If you are a member but have not yet logged into your account just reset your password usingthe same email you receive Afterburners. You will get a reply email that has a one time URL link for you to log in with to change the password.  If perchance you have changed your email address then let the membership director know so she can update it.  Use the contact form on the website.  

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The guest list below shows who has fully registered by name and any comments they wished to share.  If you have registered and nothing shows here it could be you did not complete payment, or you declined to have it shown.