Our Guest Speaker
Lt.Col. Rob "Z-Man" Zettel, USAF (Ret.)
Lt. Col. Rob “Z-Man” Zettel, USAF (ret.) is a three-year Red Eagles veteran of the 4477th Test & Evaluation Squadron (TES). Flying both MiG-21 and MiG-23 fighters as an Instructor Pilot (IP) and Functional Check Flight (FCF) pilot from September 1983 to December 1986, he was an integral member of the squadron during its most prolific years.
During this time “Z-Man” completed hundreds of sorties engaging USAF, US Navy and US Marine Corps frontline fighter pilots in his MiG aircraft, demonstrating the Soviet jets' capabilities in simulated air-to-air combat training missions. Additionally, USAF Fighter Weapons School and US Navy Topgun students would routinely be paired against Lt. Col. Zettel to see for themselves how a first-rate pilot could employ these aircraft in close in air-to-air combat engagements.
In his 42-year flying career he has flown extensively worldwide, logging more than 20,000 flight hours in everything from Stearman biplanes to frontline fighters in the USAF and, more recently, at the controls of both Boeing and Airbus' most advanced airliners.
Pre-Order Z-Man's Book!
A limited number of Z-Man's book, American MiG Pilot will be available for him to sign at our Reunion. Please go to the reunion online registration site to pre-order your copy.