F-22 participates in 20th annual Heritage Flight

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kimberly Nagle
  • 633rd Air Base Wing

Members of the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team assigned to Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, attended the 20th annual Heritage Flight Training and Certification Course at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Feb. 9 through Feb. 12, 2017.

The HFTCC began in 1977 after the U.S. Air Force celebrated its 50th anniversary, to certify pilots of past and present aircraft to fly in formation together. The certification for the course allows aerial demonstration pilots to perform together in air shows around the world.

While at the HFTC, the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team members had the opportunity to speak with members of the local community about the aircraft that they work on.

In addition to speaking with the community, the F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team assisted with launching the F-22 so it could perform with the other aircraft such as the P-38 lightning, F-35 Lightning II and the A-10C Thunderbolt II.

“It was surreal to observe the lineage of American fighters, past to present,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Darshele Green, F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team avionics specialist. “The [course] brought out a lot of people for a lot of different reasons, from small children to World War II Prisoner of War [veterans].”

As the HFTCC came to an end and the pilots all became certified, signifying the start to the demo team’s season of air shows. To find out if they are coming to an air show near you, follow their Facebook page at ACC F-22 Raptor Demo Team.