Hearing booms? Historic aircraft training at Davis-Monthan may cause loud noises above Tucson

TUCSON, Ariz. — Residents across Tucson heard loud booms Tuesday afternoon that could be related to a unique event at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

Air Force officials says the Heritage Flight Training and Certification Course at the base this week is attracting unique aircraft to Davis-Monthan. The event, which lasts from Feb. 28 to March 3, is for pilots hoping to be certified in flying historic aircraft

Those planes -- which include P-51 Mustang, the P-40 Warhawk, the P-38 Lightning, P-47 Thunderbolt and the F-86 Sabre -- are creating loud noises not usually heard from the air traffic coming and going from the base, Air Force officials say. The base says Air Combat Command aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning II, the F-22 Raptor and the F-16 Fighting Falcon will also be flying as part of the training.

Base officials did say, however, that while the aircraft can create loud noises, they wouldn't create any kind of booms.

The event is not an air show and is not open to the public, but this won't be the last Tucsonans hear of it. An official with the base says they expect arrivals for the event to peak on Feb. 28, which will include more noise from the historic aircraft traveling to the base from around the country.