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The sky over Tucson will be filled with Mustangs this week as the 2021 Heritage Flight Training Course kicks off. What is Heritage Flight? Why do they do it every year? This video describes the significance behind the annual event.
If you have attended an air show in the USA any time in the past couple of decades, the chances are pretty high that you witnessed a formation flight featuring both civilian-owned warbirds and active duty examples of modern U.S. Air Force combat jets. These ‘Heritage Flights’ started taking place officially in the buildup to the USAF 50th Anniversary celebrations in 1997, and they proved to be extremely popular with the public. As a result, these performances continued in subsequent years, with literally hundreds of appearances having now taken place across the country. Despite the seemingly effortless manner in which these aircraft arc gracefully across the sky, it requires tremendous skill to place aircraft with such dramatically different performance characteristics in such tight formations; it also requires a lot of practice. Only a handful of pilots, both active military and civilian, are approved to take part in these formations, and each year they get together before the air show season begins to work up their routines and practice them in flight. The 2020 training clinic, officially known as the Heritage Flight Training and Certification Course, took place over this past weekend, hosted by Air Combat Command at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Indeed Davis-Monthan AFB has held these aerial demonstration training events every year since 2001. The Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation nonprofit organization helps to fund the civilian participation in these air show collaborations. This year’s warbird participants included:
Air Combat Command aircraft that participated in the recent Heritage Flight training regimen included the F-35 Lightning II, F-22 Raptor and F-16 Fighting Falcon. The A-10 Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team, based at Davis-Monthan, also took part.
For more information about the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation click HERE. Below a gallery of photos from paste events.
Heritage Flight with an F-22, F-35 and a brace of P-51s. (photo by George Land)
The Heritage Flight breaks for landing. (photo by George Land)
USAF Heritage Flight. (Image via POF)
A Heritage Flight with the Cavanaugh Flight Museum’s AD-6 Skyraider and the USAF A-10C from Davis-Monthan AFB. While it is hard to see in this image, the A-10 has a plethora of mission markings on its cockpit side. (photo by George Land)
Two U.S. Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II’s, a P-38 Lightning and a P-47 Thunderbolt fly in formation over viewers during the 2017 Heritage Flight Training and Certification Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Feb. 12, 2017. Established in 1997, the HFTCC certifies civilian pilots of historic military aircraft and U.S. Air Force pilots to fly in formation together during the upcoming air show season. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Betty R. Chevalier)
Lee Lauderback pilots ‘Crazy Horse²’ in his final Heritage Flight on Thursday. Two Mustangs, an F-16 Fighting Falcon, and an A-10 Warthog made up this special formation.
An F-38 Lightening and an F-35 Lightening II fly around the airspace of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base on March 4, 2016. The F-38 and the F-35 participated in Air Combat Command’s Heritage Flight Training Course, a program that features modern fighter/attack aircraft flying alongside Word War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War-era aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Brandon Shapiro)
A P-51 Mustang and an F-35 Lightening II fly around the airspace of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base on March 4, 2016. The F-38 and the F-35 participated in Air Combat Command’s Heritage Flight Training Course, a program that features modern fighter/attack aircraft flying alongside Word War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War-era aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Brandon Shapiro)
Fred Roberts, 93, second from right, a former P-51D pilot during WWII with the 354th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group in England, talks with Lt. Gen. Mark C. “Chris” Nowland, Commander, 12th Air Force, Air Combat Command, and Commander, Air Forces Southern, U.S. Southern Command, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. during the Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, Ariz., Mar 6, 2016. Roberts was tasked with destroying 57 P-51s after the cease of hostilities in Europe; including one of the planes he flew in combat. (U.S. Air Force photo by J.M. Eddins Jr.)
A Heritage Flight pilot taxis an F-86 Sabre to join with a P-51D, F-16 and an F-22 for formation practice during the Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, Ariz., Mar 4, 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo by J.M. Eddins Jr.)
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon (bottom) joins in formation with a P-40 Warhawk (top), P-51 Mustang (right), and a F-86 Sabre Jet (left) over Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., during Heritage Flight Training Course March 2, 2014. During the course aircrews practiced ground and flight training to allow civilian pilots of historic military aircraft and current Air Force fighter pilots to safely fly in formations together, in preparation for the upcoming Open House. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Chris Massey/ Released)
The Heritage Flight returns to air show performances across the country following suspension during the sequester dilemma of 2013. (photo by Elena DePree)
Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.