Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation
What is a Heritage Flight?
The Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation celebrates U.S. air power history by providing 50-70 annual Heritage Flight demonstrations around the world. The team currently consists of 10 civilian pilots qualified to fly vintage warbirds in formation with modern Air Force single-ship demonstration teams.
Heritage Flights seek to honor the contributions of every man and woman who has served in the USAF while educating the general public on the importance of the U.S. Air Force and its mission.
featured foundation aircraft//
F-5E Tigers
An integral part of the United States Air Force’s elite aggressor program, training some of the most successful and decorated pilots. ·One F-5E features the Soviet-era blue aerial camouflage and the paint scheme of the Wing Commander for the 57th Fighter Weapons Wing, the aggressor program at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The F-5 is a first of its kind addition to Heritage Flight given the aircraft’s history as both a fighter and trainer.
The pilots//
Dan Friedkin//f-5e pilot
Dan Friedkin is the founder and chairman of the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation and one of eleven civilian Heritage Flight pilots qualified to fly in formation with U.S. Air Force demonstration teams and participates in air shows throughout North America and Europe. Aviation has been a passion of Friedkin’s since an early age, when he first took to the skies developing his skills on gliders and a variety of tail wheel aircraft and helicopters. Today, he has a focus and passion for warbirds and actively flies the T‐6, P‐51 Mustang, F‐ 86 Sabre, F6F, F8F, F4U‐4, Hawker Hurricane and various models of the Spitfire. Friedkin has worked on various well-known films such as Clint Eastwood’s critically acclaimed “The Mule,” Christopher Nolan’s epic IMAX film, “Dunkirk,” and “The Horsemen Cometh” as a lead pilot, aerial coordinator, and director. Additionally, Friedkin serves as right wing, flying for the Horsemen Flight Team, the world’s only P‐51 formation aerobatic team.
Tommy Williams// F-5E Pilot
Tommy Williams started flying when he was 16 years old in Houston, Texas before attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona. As a member of the Air Force ROTC, he was commissioned as second lieutenant following graduation. During his 36 year career with the USAF he flew the F-15C, F-5E, F-4E and the F-16C. He recently retired as a Major General, following an impressive career at the USAF Headquarters and over 3,800 hours of fighter time. In addition to this, he served as a pilot for Delta Airlines a for more than 31 years until he recently retired. When not supporting the Heritage Flight Foundation, Tommy runs his own aviation consulting firm and enjoys flying for fun in a variety of aircraft.
The Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was formed on December 6, 2010 with the primary charitable mission of providing Heritage Flights to the public. Our formations serve as a living memorial to the men and women who have served - or are currently serving - in the U.S. Air Force, and we proudly fly in support of Air Force recruiting and retention efforts.