Staff Sgt. Nikolas Kinder, F-35 Lightning II Heritage Flight crew chief, participates in the conference. The F-35 Heritage Flight Team will officially start their historic first season at home during Luke’s 75 Years of Airpower air show April 2 and 3.

Staff Sgt. Jeremy Miller, F-35 Lightning Heritage Flight Team avionics technician, communicates with the pilot during the Heritage Flight Conference. The F-35 Heritage Flight Team from Luke AFB is the first F-35 team to participate in the Heritage Flight Program.

Master Sgt. Ed DeLeon, F-35 Heritage Flight Team superintendent, speaks with community members during the conference. The program features modern U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft flying alongside World War II, Korean and Vietnam-era aircraft in a dynamic display of our nation’s air power history.

Maj. Will Andreotta, F-35 Heritage Flight Team pilot, prepares for take-off during the Heritage Flight Conference. The team will travel to 16 air shows around the U.S. and abroad.

Photos by Staff Sgt. Staci Miller

The F-35 Lightning II flies in formation with the P-38 Lightning during the Heritage Flight Conference March 4 through 6 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. The F-35 heritage flight team from Luke Air Force Base is the first F-35 team to participate in the Heritage Flight Program. The program features modern U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft flying alongside World War II, Korean and Vietnam-era aircraft in a dynamic display of our nation’s air power history.

Members of the first-ever F-35 Lightning II Heritage Flight Team from Luke participate in the conference. The Lightning II qualified March 6 at the Heritage Flight Conference at Davis-Monthan AFB to take part in the Air Combat Command Air Force Heritage Flight program.