THROUGH THE LENS: 2019 Heritage Flight Training and Certification Course
Report and photos by Steven Valinski
March 6, 2019
Each year the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation and the USAF’s ACC team up to present 50-70 Heritage Flights around the world where warbirds of yesteryear fly alongside today’s 4th and 5th gen USAF fighters and attack aircraft.
Currently, the P-38, P-40, P-47, P-51 and/or F-86 fly alongside the F-16, A-10, F-22 and/or F-35 in various tribute formations at open houses, air shows and other events.
In order to prepare for the upcoming season intensive training needs to take place for pilots to work on their aerial demonstrations and formation flying. Each year the Heritage Flight Training and Certification Course takes place at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona. Taking advantage of Southern Arizona’s wonderful flying weather, all the needed training and certification happens over a single extended weekend.
This year marked the 20th anniversary of the training course which took place February 28th through March 3rd.
For more information about the Heritage Flight Training and Certification Course, check out these links:
https://www.airforceheritageflight.org/
In the meantime, here we take a look at the 2019 Heritage Flight Training and Certification Course…THROUGH THE LENS…
Steven’s interest in photography began when he was 16 years old when he received his first SLR camera, a Minolta XGA. It makes sense that eventually his passion for aviation and photography would merge into a love for aviation photography.
In addition to being the web designer, webmaster and chief editor of Aviation Photography Digest, Steven has been published in numerous magazines worldwide.
Steven has an M.S. from Boston University and uses Nikon photographic equipment.
Steven is a Nikon NPS member.
Steven can be reached at: [email protected]