D-M flight training going old school
Among the dozens of visiting fighter planes flying out of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base this month will be be classic warbirds — P-51 Mustangs, a P-38 Lightning, a P-47 Thunderbolt, two F-86 Sabres and more will take off along with F-22 and F-35 fighter jets, as well as Dutch F-16s and National Guard A-10s.
The World War II-era fighters will train alongside modern Air Force jets as part of the Heritage Flight Training Conference, Feb. 9-12.
Six P-51 Mustangs, one T-51 Mustang, one P-38 Lightning, one P-40 Warhawk, one P-47 Thunderbolt, two F-86 Sabres, and one T-33 Shooting Star will fly with two F-22 Raptors, three F-16 Fighting Falcons and two F-35 Lightning IIs during the training.
Other D-M visitors include six F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Royal Netherlands Air Force, which arrived Jan. 26 and will train in Tucson until Feb. 24.
Also, 12 A-10C Thunderbolt IIs from the 107th Fighter Squadron, Michigan Air National Guard, arrived Jan. 27 and will train at D-M until Feb. 11. Another dozen A-10C Thunderbolt IIs from the 122nd Fighter Squadron, Indiana Air National Guard, will train here Feb. 11 through Feb. 25.