<b>F-22 Joins Other LM Products in Preparation for Airshows</b> (Posted: Wednesday, March 08, 2006)
<img src="http://pic16.picturetrail.com/VOL702/3046559/6177620/132351930.jpg" border=0>
The air over Davis-Monthan AFB, near Tucson, Ariz., was filled with fighters new and old March 3-5 as the Air Force hosted its annual Heritage Flight Conference. Over the three days, current F-16s, A-10s, F-15s and, for the first time, an F-22, were flown in formation with World War II P-51 Mustangs, a P-47 Thunderbolt and a P-40 Warhawk, a Korean War F-86 Sabre and Vietnam-era F-4 Phantom IIs to prepare for the 2006 airshow season.
Started in 1997, the Heritage Flight allows demonstration pilots flying dissimilar aircraft to practice forming up and flying with each other for dramatic flybys at airshows around the country.
"The heritage aircraft are the heart and soul of the modern Air Force," said Col. James Hecker, the commander of the 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley AFB, Va., the first operational F-22 unit. "The Heritage Flight also allows us to get our aircraft in the public's eye."
A C-130J from the 143rd Airlift Wing at Quonset Point, R.I., served as the camera platform for the 10-ship mission that culminated the weekend. The speed of the C-130J more closely matches that of the fighters, making the Super Hercules and ideal platform to shoot photos from.
Text by Jeff Rhodes; photos by John Rossino
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