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Air Force

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Vintage aircraft, modern fighter jets fly together at the Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan AFB

Stars and Stripes •
The view from below, a modern F-22 and a WWII P-51 Mustang.

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor aircraft flies in formation with a P-51 Mustang during the Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Feb. 27, 2025.  (Jasmyne Bridgers-Matos/U.S. Air Force)

Modern aircraft flew side-by-side with World War II, Korea and Vietnam-era planes at the Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

The course provides the opportunity for pilots of the Air Combat Command single-ship demonstration teams to practice flying in dissimilar aircraft formations before the air show season begins.

The course is a mandatory event for all U.S. Air Force demonstration teams, refining their skills and ensuring professionalism and readiness for the upcoming air show season

Heritage flights raise awareness of the Air Force mission and serve as a living memorial to the men and women who have served, or are currently serving in the Air Force.

The two aircraft from different eras fly together.

An F-35A flies alongside a P-38 Lightning during the Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Feb. 28, 2025. (Nicholas Rupiper/U.S. Air Force)

Blue sky above as the aircraft fly in formation.

An F-35A performs aerial maneuvers alongside two F-5 Tigers during the Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 2, 2025. (Nicholas Rupiper/U.S. Air Force)

Three aircraft fly in formation through the glare of the sun.

A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft performs alongside a P-51 Mustang aircraft and a Northrop F-5 aircraft during the Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 1, 2025. (William Finn V/U.S. Air Force)

Two aircraft fly together under a blue sky.

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor aircraft flies in formation with a U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft during the Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 1, 2025. (William Finn V/U.S. Air Force)

An F-35 in flight, mountains in the background.

A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft flies during the Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 1, 2025. The F-35 Lightning II Demonstration Team performs at airshows around the country, as well as internationally, to display the combat capabilities of the Air Force’s newest fifth-generation fighter. (Devlin Bishop/U.S. Air Force)

The propellers are blur as two P-51s take flight.

Two Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation P-51 Mustang aircraft fly in formation during the Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 1, 2025. (Devlin Bishop/U.S. Air Force)

Four aircraft in flight, blue sky above.

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor aircraft flies in formation with two Northrop F-5 Tiger II aircraft and an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft during the Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 1, 2025. Heritage Flights display the evolution of America’s air combat capabilities. (Devlin Bishop/U.S. Air Force)

An airman stands on the tarmac in front of an F-16.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Taylor “FEMA” Heister, F-16 Viper Demonstration Team pilot and commander, prepares to perform a demonstration during the Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Feb. 27, 2025. (Jasmyne Bridgers-Matos/U.S. Air Force)

A view from below an F-16 in flight, blue sky and clouds above.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Taylor “FEMA” Heister, F-16 Viper Demonstration Team pilot and commander, flies during the Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Feb. 28, 2025. In 2024, the team released a 50th anniversary paint scheme, paying homage to the YF-16 prototype that first flew at Edwards AFB in 1974. (Samantha Melecio/U.S. Air Force)

A front view of a as an F-35 taxis.

Maj. Melanie ‘Mach’ Kluesner, F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team pilot, taxis her F-35A Lightning II after completing a demonstration at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., during Heritage Flight Training 2025 on Feb. 27, 2025. (Nathan Poblete/U.S. Air Force)

A pilot looks out of her cockpit.

Maj. Melanie ‘Mach’ Kluesner, F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team pilot, conducts pre-flight inspections on her F-35A Lightning II before launching for a demonstration at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., during the Heritage Flight Training on Feb. 27, 2025. (Nathan Poblete/U.S. Air Force)

Val-Halla is written on the side of a P-51.

A P-51 Mustang aircraft rests on the tarmac before performing an aerial demonstration during the Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Feb. 27, 2025. The P-51 Mustang was used as an American long-range fighter in World War II and the Korean War. (Andrew Garavito/U.S. Air Force )

Two crew members work on a tire.

U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper Demonstration Team members perform maintenance on an F-16 during the Heritage Flight Training Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Feb. 28, 2025. The team routinely maintains, inspects and services their aircraft to ensure they are safe, operational and mission ready at all times. (Jasmyne Bridgers-Matos/U.S. Air Force)

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