The A-10 Thunderbolt II, QF-4 Phantom, F-16 Falcon, and F-22 Raptor will fly the airshow circuit in close formation with World War II aircraft again this summer. The Air Combat Command Heritage Flight will perform with warbirds, including the A-36 Apache, F-86 Sabre, P-40 Warhawk, and P-47 Thunderbolt, said ACC officials. The 355th Fighter Wing at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., plans to host two days of training early next month to certify that both civilian and ACC pilots are prepared to safely perform at shows across the United States and Canada. Formed in 1997, the heritage flight aims to fly at 40 to 60 formation performances with World War II-, Korean War-, and Vietnam War-era aircraft, preserving the service’s link with its history. In 2010, the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation was formed as a benevolent funding stream to perpetuate the flight’s mission. (Davis-Monthan release) (Heritage Flight webpage)
Earlier this week, the People’s Republic of China confirmed it is halting its nuclear arms control talks with the U.S., in retaliation for the U.S. continuing to sell arms to Taiwan. The move reinforces a “pattern of behavior” from Beijing, experts say.