Formation Flying

Keeping & Driving the formation

Formations:

Formation flying and fighting was a major issue in WWII. In the begginig of the war, formations were tight as they were in WWI where visual signaling was used among the pilots. The problem with tight formations is that they require a lot of attention to maintain, instead of using it for SA.

Most books I've read about early WWII air war, mention the fact that both sides changed their formation tactics frequently, experimenting with different approaches. Finally, the "pair" became the basic tactical unit on both sides and still is in modern air war.

The "Spread" Formation:

The "modern" formation is the "spread" formation or "line abreast".
In this formation, the pair flies side by side, and clear each other's dead views:

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Also, the symmetry of it, enables both pilots to be defensive or offensive as needed. As will be explained later, the spread of the pair (distance) plays an important role in offensive and defensive situations and should change according to the plane types and mission type.

As a rule of thumb, for "casual" flying around d500 is convenient to maintain, while when headed into the frey, distance should grow up to about d1.0 .

Driving the "Spread" Formation:

Should the pair try to turn to another direction for more than a few degrees, they would find themselves in a "line astern", and the rear pilot would find it difficult to return to his position.
For this reason, "turning" as opposed to "course correction" should be done using the "Tactical Turn".
Making a 180 degrees "in-place" turn, like in a bar-patrol should be done using "Cross Split".

  1. The Pair's "Leader" is the one who "steers" the formation. His responsibility is to make the tactical decisions. He should also make sure that his "wingman" is able to maintain the formation.
  2. "wingman" is responsible to keep the geometry of the formation, and make correction accordingly.
  3. Highlight your wingman - use the dot command < .wingman XXX > to change wingman's icon's colour (defualt is white and can me customized from the setup/colour menu). This little thing really helps SA.
  4. Heading should always be declared by the leader. could be an absolute direction (N, NW...) a geographical location (turn ib A52...) or for a short while, other aircraft/formation (turn ib cons at 11 oc).
  5. Manifold Settings - should be declared by the formation leader. This should not be full throttle but less (usually about 3/4 or 2/3) so wingman has enough power to play with, keeping the formation.

 

  1. This is used whenever one of the pair finds himself too far in front and should make it possible for his wingman to catch up.
  2. DO NOT SLOW DOWN! speed is everything in air combat, don't let it go so easily. Instead, make your flight path longer.
  3. Declare you are weaving, so the lagging wingman would keep a straight course. Then start slow zig-zagging to make your flight path longer. Do not pull G's so you don't loose speed.
  4. Once your wingman is close enough for minor corrections, level and correct / let him correct the formation. Your air-speed should still be about the same.

 

  1. Section-leader start the turn by announcing the final direction.
  2. The "outside" pilot start turning first while "inside" keep going straight.
  3. when the "outside" pilots passes his 5oc (or 7 oc) "inside" pilot starts his turn.
  4. End the turn in the announced direction and correct position for "combat spread".
  5. Click pic for a larger view of the blackboard:

  1. Section leader announces a cross-split.
  2. Both pilots turn "inside" simultaniously".
  3. Passing one above the other, ending the turn in a "line abreast formation" heading the other way.
  4. If done against a chasing bandit, distance providing, follow up with a "Bracket" attack.
  5. Check the blackboard for visual description:

Flying a 4some:

A foursome formation is just two pairs formation and should be treated as such.
The only difference is that in 4some the formation leader is calling the direction and man settings (besides tactical orders).Again we do not want to be too busy keeping the formation, so we fly "Pairs loose formation":

  1. Formation leader is leading just as he would lead a pair.
  2. Section leader (the other pair's leader) follows the leading pair "loosly". Meaning, he keeps a distance from the leading pair, making small corrections to keep him position relative to the leader. No need to get too close - around d2.0 is enough, usually back and to the side of the formation-leader. basicly he follows his leader direction/man calls.
  3. both "wingman", each follows his own leader. (that means, the section wingman keeps position by the section leader, NOT by formation leader.)
  4. This way, every pilot has only 1 plane to keep position relative to