Heritage Flight showcases past present and future

by Senior Airman Timothy Moore
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

3/11/2013 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- The Air Combat Command Heritage Flight Training and Certification Course was held at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Feb. 28 through March 3. The course showcased aircrews performing ground and flight training to enable civilian pilots of past military aircraft and Air Force pilots of present fighter aircraft to fly in formations together.

Throughout the four-day course, crews from the Heritage Flight Museum, A-10 East Heritage Flight Team, A-10 West Heritage Flight Team, F-16 East Heritage Flight Team and F-16 West Heritage Flight Team practice flying together in formation in preparation for possible air shows should funding allow.

Heading into Women's History Month, Heritage Flight also showcased ACC's first female Heritage Flight demo team pilot.

Capt. Tess "Xena" Labowitch, F-16 East Heritage Flight Team pilot from Shaw AFB, S.C., received her certification in the F-16, and even got to tag along in one of the heritage aircraft during the first day of flying. She then flew in formation with pilots from the other team for the rest of the course.

"This is so cool," Labowitch said. "We get to showcase past, present and future from the Air Force. We get to work with these older, experienced guys who have so much passion for aviation and the history of it, which actually inspires passion in you."

The course, which began in 1997 as a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force, certifies and re-certifies pilots enabling them to fly in both civilian and military air shows. The course was continued this year in the event that there is a favorable resolution to current financial challenges allowing Air Force and civilian Heritage pilots to participate in air shows.

Labowitch and other pilots not only showcased their formation flying but also some of the combat maneuvers their respective aircraft are capable of.

"We do a high-speed pass and also some afterburner maneuvers," Labowitch said. "That's important to showcase what we do on a daily basis in combat, getting away from the ground quickly, away from the enemy. Then, obviously show our maintenance guys kicking butt as always, taking care of the jets and keeping the combat and day-to-day capable."

Though she is ACC's first female F-16 Heritage Flight demo pilot, Labowitch is just another trained pilot.

"I imagine it feels the same as everyone else," Labowitch said. "It's just a really cool opportunity and so much fun to come out here and get to fly with these guys."