In 1996, the Air Force enacted a program called Heritage in which modern military aircraft were teamed up with vintage wartime aircraft for an aerial display at air shows. Soon after, the Navy followed suit with the "Legacy Flight," using the modern Navy fighters and past wartime Navy aircraft with the mission of proudly displaying the evolution of US Naval airpower.

Until last year, there were no active vintage Navy aircraft that required a crew of two until The Cavanaugh Flight Museum brought their AD1 Skyraider into the program.
At Sun n Fun this past month, I was privileged to ride along as a spotter and hook operator in the right seat while Stuart Milson, a qualified Legacy pilot flew the air show mission. The modern Jet was to be an F-18 Super Hornet or “Rhino” and this particular crew was out for its first demo flight of the season.

At briefing, I was immediately impressed by how thorough the team was in reviewing every detail of the flight. After the Hornet crew finish their solo demo, they join up on us in the Skyraider, orbiting away from the field for what will be three passes over the airport with a break to land. This all sounds plain enough but from the right seat of the Skyraider I was blown away by the skills of these pilots. When the Hornet crew signals us they were ready to join on us, Stuart pours on the coals as we flog 200 plus knots out of the AD1.  While holding a steep right hand turn, the Hornet appears at out nine o’clock in an attitude that can best be described as a “solid mush,” nose high attitude as it plow’s towards us on an intercept course that never waivers. Just as I wonder whether we will collide, the big jet gracefully slides underneath us and appears on our left wing in one fluid move as if its been there the whole time. “This is the pilots first time” I scream to myself as we start the dive in for the “photo pass.” I couldn’t resist, after glancing at the gauges to make sure all pressures are in the green and dropping the tail hook (the Air Force guys can’t do that!) I have to squeeze a few shots off. I brought my ten millimeter lens so I could get both jet and Stuart in the frame and it was good thing I did. I swear, if I was sitting on the wing of the Skyraider, I could have reached out and touched the Hornet with the heal of my shoe, All this while maneuvering at speeds close to stall for the Hornet.

The average focal length of your eye is about 50 millimeters. These shots were taken at between 10 and 20 millimeters and still look how close we were…amazing.

Thanks to Stuart and the Cavanaugh guys for letting me experience this awesome site. I have a whole new respect for the ability of our military pilots and equipment.