Five-Ship USAF Heritage Flight Formation!!

[RyanS]

For as long as I can remember, the USAF Heritage Flights have been limited to four aircraft or less. Apparently, they did some five+ship flying (not really a routine) at the Heritage Flight conference this year. Check out the video!

I don't want to get carried away with excitement because they really seemed to be either playing it super safe (understandable) or maybe struggling with it. The flight certainly wasn't the normal routine and given how hard it is to even find four ship HFs I imagine five-ships would be incredibly rare even if approved.

https://www.facebook.com/F35HFT/videos/ ... 262300867/

[RyanS]

Somewhat related, here is the five-ship Hrritage Flight patch as posted by the F-35 Heritage Team on Facebook.

[RyanS]

Another video:

https://www.facebook.com/F35HFT/videos/ ... /?sk=h_chr

[BruceK]

When I went to Warbirds Downunder 2013 in Temora, Australia they flew a 6-ship Heritage flight - 2 Spitfires, CAC Mustang, Gloster Meteor, CAC Sabre and a F-18 Hornet. It was a windy day so they were bouncing around and the Meteor had a hard in the turns being the inside plane almost stalling. https://youtu.be/vp6zNqGRx5M

[Viper93]

So far, I believe Abbotsford was the only airshow to have a 4 ship USAF Heritage Flight. Last summer, we had an F-16, F-35, F-86, and a P-51 perform it. It was pretty daam cool to see. If somehow a 5 ship happens, that would be sick. In order for that, all the ACC aircraft would need to be at the same show.

[RyanS]

So far, I believe Abbotsford was the only airshow to have a 4 ship USAF Heritage Flight. Last summer, we had an F-16, F-35, F-86, and a P-51 perform it. It was pretty daam cool to see. If somehow a 5 ship happens, that would be sick. In order for that, all the ACC aircraft would need to be at the same show.

Lots of shows have had four ships in the past, but they are certainly somewhat rare.

Oshkosh actually would have had a five ship last year with two P-51s, two A-10s, and the F-35. Since a five-ship was not approved, they flew a different four ship each day.

[Bretten Bailey]

So far, I believe Abbotsford was the only airshow to have a 4 ship USAF Heritage Flight. Last summer, we had an F-16, F-35, F-86, and a P-51 perform it. It was pretty daam cool to see. If somehow a 5 ship happens, that would be sick. In order for that, all the ACC aircraft would need to be at the same show.

Lots of shows have had four ships in the past, but they are certainly somewhat rare.

Oshkosh actually would have had a five ship last year with two P-51s, two A-10s, and the F-35. Since a five-ship was not approved, they flew a different four ship each day.

Chicago has had a 4-ship multiple times in the past (2006= F-15C/A-10/F-4/P-51 and 2009= A-10/F-15E/F-16/P-51). I think Louisville did a four-ship once or twice too.

I think the Grumman Cats formation was the only time we'd see an official public "flight" showing aircraft lineage or heritage in the United States for awhile. And trust me, I hope to eat those words

Also, not all ACC aircraft would need to be present for a 5-ship. You could easily have just one and 4 warbirds (let's just randomly say 2 P-51s, an F-86 and a P-47 for example). Yes, not a likely scenario, but still would be cool!

[Chris Smallenberg]

So far, I believe Abbotsford was the only airshow to have a 4 ship USAF Heritage Flight. Last summer, we had an F-16, F-35, F-86, and a P-51 perform it. It was pretty daam cool to see. If somehow a 5 ship happens, that would be sick. In order for that, all the ACC aircraft would need to be at the same show.

I believe Abbotsford last year was the first outside the U.S. to have a 4-ship. Definitely have been a few in the U.S. over the years.

As for the 5 ship, I wouldn't be surprised if you are correct. It looks like more than one profile was flown but the one consistency appears to be that a warbird led the 5-ship and the 4 ACC aircraft flew of its wings. Wouldn't surprise me if this is the only 5-ship configuration approved. But that leads to the question, why bother? They are never all going to be at the same show.

[RFDGuy]

4 ships used to be semi common, when we had multiple Viper, Eagle and A-10 teams plus the F-4. Scott AFB has had them and then I've seen Chi and Osh. Sadly now a days 4 ships are getting kind of hard to come by.

[rbartnik]

Chicago has had a 4-ship multiple times in the past (2006= F-15C/A-10/F-4/P-51 and 2009= A-10/F-15E/F-16/P-51). I think Louisville did a four-ship once or twice too.

Also in 2008 (F-22/F-15E/F-4/P-51).