This Photo Of A Pair Of A-10 Warthogs Is Mesmerizing

Updated Mar 15, 2021 1:05 PM EDT

Air Force single-ship demo teams and a gaggle of eclectic warbirds descended on Davis Monthan AFB last week for the annual Heritage Flight Conference . It is here that the solo demo teams perfect the Heritage Flight program alongside various warbirds that they may meet up with at airshows across the United States. The Heritage Flight pairs a USAF demo jet with a fighter or attack aircraft from the USAF’s past. Often times the unique formations are tacked onto the back of a jet team’s demo and offer a poignant remembrance of airmen who made the Air Force what it is today, many of which sacrificed heavily in doing so. This year, one particular Heritage Flight training sortie was like no other ever and resulted in the incredible mind-twisting image you see at the top of this piece.

The Heritage Flight cross-training occurs every year in Tucson before the airshow season. This year the A-10 Demo Team has a newly painted Warthog that sports a Southeast Asia scheme reminiscent of the Vietnam War era. This is in addition to the team’s other Warthog, which wears a WWII-inspired scheme. Pro aviation photographer Larry Grace was there to catch an incredibly unique moment in which both specially painted A-10s performed the “Heritage Break,” a stunning crossing maneuver that serves as the apex of the Heritage Flight program. Usually, the A-10 would be breaking with a P-51 or other warbird, not another A-10, and especially not one wearing another nostalgic paint scheme.

The one-of-a-kind moment when both of the A-10 Demo Team’s specially painted Warthogs flew the Heritage Flight program, including the iconic Heritage Break. , Larry Grace Photography

Here’s a bit from Larry Grace, which goes by the handle @Larrygracephoto on Instagram, about the circumstances surrounding his amazing image and how he snapped it:

This year the newest demo pilot and team leader for the A-10 Demo Team is Capt. Haden “Gator” Fullam. Capt. Fullam, along with last year’s team leader and demo pilot Maj. Cody “ShIV” Wilton, flew a demo with the two specially painted A-10 demo aircraft. They finished their demo with the Heritage Break. This was and will be the only time both specially painted A-10 aircraft will fly together. With Maj. Wilton returning to the Heritage Flight Conference to assist in training, a special Heritage Flight formation was put together with both A-10 flying alongside an A-1 Skyraider, the warbird being flown by Stuart Milson. Then the A-10 and A-1, both in Vietnam camouflage, flew a Heritage Flight demo training flight. Afterward, the two A-10s rejoined and flew a special one-time-only flight. At the end of the demo flight, the aircraft did the traditional Heritage Break. Knowing that this was going to take place, I set up, and as the aircraft flew over I tracked and followed them and got ready to capture the moment. It wasn’t until I reviewed the images from the day did I realize I captured this special moment in such a unique way.

This year the newest demo pilot and team leader for the A-10 Demo Team is Capt. Haden “Gator” Fullam. Capt. Fullam, along with last year’s team leader and demo pilot Maj. Cody “ShIV” Wilton, flew a demo with the two specially painted A-10 demo aircraft. They finished their demo with the Heritage Break. This was and will be the only time both specially painted A-10 aircraft will fly together.

With Maj. Wilton returning to the Heritage Flight Conference to assist in training, a special Heritage Flight formation was put together with both A-10 flying alongside an A-1 Skyraider, the warbird being flown by Stuart Milson. Then the A-10 and A-1, both in Vietnam camouflage, flew a Heritage Flight demo training flight. Afterward, the two A-10s rejoined and flew a special one-time-only flight.

At the end of the demo flight, the aircraft did the traditional Heritage Break. Knowing that this was going to take place, I set up, and as the aircraft flew over I tracked and followed them and got ready to capture the moment. It wasn’t until I reviewed the images from the day did I realize I captured this special moment in such a unique way.

Check out the awesome results of Larry’s work:

Larry Grace Photography

This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment and we are grateful to Larry Grace for sharing it with us.

Make sure you check out Larry’s site , follow him on Facebook and Instagram , and check out his bio . If you would like to republish or obtain prints of these or any other of Larry’s photos please contact him directly through those channels for permission.

Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com

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更新于美国东部时间2021年3月15日下午1:05

上周，空军单机飞行表演队和一群各式各样的战机齐聚戴维斯-蒙森空军基地，参加一年一度的“传承飞行大会”。在这里，单机飞行表演队将与他们在全美各地航展上可能遇到的各种战机一起，完善“传承飞行”项目。“传承飞行”是指将一架美国空军的演示喷气机与一架美国空军历史上的战斗机或攻击机编队飞行。这种独特的编队飞行通常安排在喷气机表演队的尾部，以此深切缅怀那些为美国空军做出巨大贡献的飞行员，其中许多人为此献出了宝贵的生命。今年，一次特殊的“传承飞行”训练飞行任务更是前所未有，最终成就了本文开头这幅令人叹为观止的画面。

“传承飞行”特技飞行表演队每年在图森航展季开始前都会进行交叉训练。今年，A-10演示队有一架新涂装的“疣猪”攻击机，采用了令人联想起越南战争时期东南亚战区的涂装。此​​外，该队还有另一架涂装二战风格涂装的“疣猪”攻击机。专业航空摄影师拉里·格雷斯捕捉到了一个极其罕见的瞬间：两架涂装独特的A-10攻击机共同完成了“传承飞行”特技飞行——这项精彩绝伦的交叉飞行特技是“传承飞行”项目的重头戏。通常情况下，A-10会与P-51或其他老式战机进行交叉飞行，而不是与另一架A-10，更何况是一架涂装同样充满怀旧气息的A-10。

A-10演示队的两架特制涂装的“疣猪”攻击机共同执行了“遗产飞行”计划，其中包括标志性的“遗产突破”特技飞行，这一独一无二的时刻令人难忘。（拉里·格雷斯摄影）

以下是摄影师 Larry Grace（Instagram 账号为 @Larrygracephoto）关于他拍摄这张精彩照片的背景和过程的描述：

今年A-10演示队的最新演示飞行员兼队长是哈登·“鳄鱼”·富勒姆上尉。富勒姆上尉与去年的队长兼演示飞行员科迪·“希夫”·威尔顿少校一起，驾驶两架涂装特殊的A-10演示机进行了飞行表演。他们以传统的“传承休息”结束了此次表演。这也是这两架涂装特殊的A-10飞机唯一一次共同飞行。威尔顿少校返回“传承飞行大会”协助训练，因此，两架A-10与一架由斯图尔特·米尔森驾驶的A-1“空中袭击者”战斗机组成了一个特殊的“传承飞行”编队。随后，两架涂装越南迷彩的A-10和A-1进行了一次“传承飞行”演示训练飞行。之后，两架A-10再次会合，进行了一次特殊的仅此一次的飞行。在演示飞行结束时，飞机进行了传统的“传承休息”。我知道这一幕即将发生，于是提前做好了准备。飞机飞过时，我一路追踪，随时准备捕捉这一刻。直到我查看当天拍摄的照片时，才意识到自己以如此独特的方式记录下了这特殊的一刻。

今年A-10演示队的最新演示飞行员兼队长是哈登·“鳄鱼”·富勒姆上尉。富勒姆上尉与去年的队长兼演示飞行员科迪·“希夫”·威尔顿少校一起，驾驶两架特制涂装的A-10演示机进行了飞行表演。他们的表演以“传承休息”特技飞行结束。这也是这两架特制涂装的A-10飞机唯一一次共同飞行。

威尔顿少校返回遗产飞行大会协助训练后，特地组建了一支特殊的遗产飞行编队，两架A-10攻击机与一架A-1“空中袭击者”攻击机并肩飞行，后者由斯图尔特·米尔森驾驶。随后，涂装越南迷彩的A-10和A-1进行了一次遗产飞行演示训练飞行。之后，两架A-10再次会合，进行了一次仅此一次的特殊飞行。

演示飞行结束后，飞机进行了传统的“传承飞行”（Heritage Break）表演。我知道会有这一幕，所以提前做好了准备。飞机飞过时，我一路追踪，随时准备捕捉这一刻。直到我查看当天拍摄的照片时，才意识到自己以如此独特的方式记录下了这特殊的一刻。

来看看拉里令人惊叹的工作成果：

拉里·格雷斯摄影

这真是一生难得的时刻，我们非常感谢 Larry Grace 与我们分享了这一刻。

请务必访问拉里的网站，在Facebook和Instagram上关注他，并查看他的个人简介。如果您想转载或获取拉里这些或其他照片的印刷品，请通过上述渠道直接联系他以获得许可。

联系作者：Tyler@thedrive.com

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