Navy Tailhook Legacy Flight Foundation Debuts

PRESS RELEASE – The Navy Tailhook Legacy Flight Foundation is excited to announce its participation in the 2016 North American air show season. The Navy Tailhook Legacy Flight Foundation (NTLFF – pronounced “Nat-liff”) is a civilian, non-profit organization and a funding source for the U.S. Navy Tailhook Legacy Flight Demonstration. The goal of the Foundation is to provide funding, resources and leadership to facilitate vintage naval tailhook aircraft and their crews flying formation demonstration flights with current active duty naval tailhook aircraft. These demonstrations are sanctioned by the Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF) and may be performed in conjunction with Navy Tactical Demonstration (TACDEMO) Team aircraft.

Donations made to the Foundation will finance warbird aircraft flights to and from events and will also enable the warbird crews to train alongside the active duty aviators with whom they will be flying these demonstrations. Recent budget constraints have impacted the Navy’s ability to support training and flying Tailhook Legacy Flights. The Foundation will be the backbone of the civilian side of the program to ensure Navy Tailhook Legacy Flights can continue without DoD supplemental funding. Flying vintage aircraft is a resource-consuming endeavor, which requires considerable funding to enable aircraft to transit to/from aerial events. Many vintage aircraft are maintained and operated by non-profit organizations or private individuals at significant cost to the sponsor(s). NTLFF will provide air show booking services, liaison services and monetary support for flying warbird aircraft to/from events.

Mission Statement – “The mission of the Navy Tailhook Legacy Flight Foundation is to keep the history and tradition of Naval Aviation alive. To accomplish this goal, the Foundation will support warbird aircraft maintenance, fuel and oil costs in support of CNAF approved flight crews flying in formation with active duty Naval Aviation aircraft in the ‘Navy Tailhook Legacy Flight’ demonstration. The goal of these flights is to memorialize the rich history of those who have gone before us, promote the tradition and legacy of Naval Aviation and support the efforts of the United States Navy in attracting quality applicants to serve in Naval Aviation.”

In addition to supporting the Navy warbird community, NTLFF will promote the history of Naval Aviation and the rich traditions that have carried it through the years. Through the use of electronic media, NTLFF will provide access to information on the various events, aircrew, personneland aircraft that are part of the rich tradition of Naval Aviation and will feature information about the aircraft and pilots who perform the Navy Tailhook Legacy Flight. Finally, there is a requirement for NTLFF to promote public awareness of their goals, public education of the Navy Tailhook Legacy Flight, promotion of general Naval Aviation history and career opportunities in Naval Aviation.

The Foundation’s founding directors are Mr. Bernard Conaway, President/Director of Operations; Dr. Richard “Doc” Sugden, Warbird Logistics Director; and CAPT (Ret) Mark “Mutha” Hubbard, USN, Chief Air Show Liaison. Each director brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in all the areas the Foundation needs to be successful.

For more information visit www.ntlff.org or on Facebook