USAF Demo Team announcement

[mlenoch]

http://www.acc.af.mil/shared/media/docu ... 01-048.pdf

FYI,
VL

[Jerry O'Neill]

It's a shame. Must be lots of scrambling at ICAS this week!
Major sucking sound coming from USAF HQ!
Jerry

[dred]

Sad news, but when money's tight, tough decisions need to be made. Perhaps one day we'll be out of this mess and the demos can return.

[CH2Tdriver]

Holy Cow! I thought it was going to say no more HF's, not NO demo's except for the F-22!!!???

No A-10/F-15/F-16?? 2012 is gonna suck!

[Mike]

Well, they have to do something with the F-22s as they seem to show no sign of deploying them to a combat zone, so they might as well keep flying air shows with them.

Vlado, any insights as to what this might mean for the future of the HF programme?

[mlenoch]

No word on how HF's will work in 2012.
HF's were not funded by USAF in 2011.
Per the USAF statement, HF will continue only with the F-22.
VL

[Pogmusic]

I may be misreading this; but it seems as if Heritage will still be there:

The opportunity to showcase our aircrew at air shows around the country is important – and we’re confident our Thunderbirds, F-22 demonstration team and Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation will continue highlighting the extraordinary work of all our Airmen.

It says AND heritage not F-22s doing heritage...

[K5DH]

It's a shame that we won't be seeing as many USAF single-ship demos in 2012, but perhaps this could turn out to be a good thing for vintage warbirds. Since many air show promoters suddenly have empty schedule time on their hands because of the curtailed USAF demos, would they maybe consider filling that time with vintage warbirds? I guess that would depend on how much money they have available to offer the warbird operators for fuel and appearance fees, but it's a nice possibility to dream about.

And about the F-22... have you seen one of their air show performances yet? O. M. G. Most impressive single-ship jet demo I've ever experienced in nearly 40 years of going to air shows.

I got one of the F-15E team's "zap" stickers at the last air show I attended. I guess it's extra-special now.

[Mike]

So it sounds like a maximum of 20 Heritage Flights (with the F-22) next year?

[WarbirdRadio]

A rep from ACC is coming on tomorrow's Warbird Radio LIVE (10am EASTERN). It's also Open Line Friday...should be interesting. Studio Line is 478.787.4768.

http://www.warbirdradio.com/2011/12/ope ... adio-live/

Matt

[kalamazookid]

The F-22 is impressive in a freakish sort of way, but it just doesn't hold the appeal of the other newer jets for me. It's obvious ACC wants to showcase its best aircraft if it can only show one, so I can see why they eliminated the others. This really feels like the end of an era.

I'm really going to miss seeing F-16 East at TOM. F-16s are probably my least favorite of the USAF fighters, but they always flew my favorite demo. It's been fun seeing A-10s, F-15s and F-16s over the years. I hope that someday we'll be able to see these demos at shows again.

[Robbie Stuart]

Just Dam!

[Flyin Illini]

Any word on the F-4's as well? Last i heard they were funding theirselves also.

[kmiles]

I know of at least one F-4D that is available for shows in 2012.
(RickH where are you?)

[67N20]

Now, maybe Wings Over Houston will be able to have the Vietnam demo next year.