
An F-22 Raptor during an annual demo training at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
The annual Heritage Flight Training and Certification Course is an annual four-day training event for civilian and military pilots who are given the opportunity to practice flying in formation together .
Held at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, since 2001, the course is attended by pilots of historic aircraft, like the P-51 Mustang, the P-40 Warhawk, the P-38 Lightning, the P-47 Thunderbolt and the F-86 Sabre, as well as fighter jocks with their F-16 Fighting Falcon or F-22 Raptor.
Specific training is required to perform formation flying, even more so when several aircraft types with much different performance are involved.
On top of this article you can see an interesting photograph of a Raptor cutting through the clouds during a demo training flight.
Here below you can see the aircaft flying in formation over Davis-Monthan AFB on Feb. 26.
Image credit: U.S. Air Force
Its what you need for an airshow. Twin engines, full reheat :)
This is, the best possible way to burn Dino blood. Ever. Only way it could be better is if the ’71 was part of the demo. Jet Fuel, AvGas, and Triethylborane….
I thought that “Dear Leader” banned all airshows as per “Sequestration” rules. So what are they practicing for? I have seen the F-22 Demo before they put restrictions (before they learned the Empennage has major cracks and they started to restrict the G loading in certain flight regimes) It was a sight to behold. Cobra, Hook, Bell, and even hovering on RAW thrust, then accelerating and gaining altitude shortly before using vectored thrust to nose over (massive negative G) and into a dive. If I had to bet, I would say the FLICS control software for the Demo Birds is more like the System Development jets in that it loosens the flight control laws being applied, which allows for more instability and greater risk taking. Either way entertaining as all He!!.