The F-4 demo team comes form the last active F-4 flying unit in the USAF. Periodically the USAF takes an F-5 form the AMARC (boneyard), "unpickles it," fits the remote control equipment to it, then send it out to be a drone. Drones can do things manned aircraft cannot, like be used for live fire exercises.
IIRC, the aviators at Davis Monthan AFB keep current in these drones primarily to check otu the unpickled aircraft and to check out drone pilots. The Heritage Flight duty is a side duty and one that I support 100%.
