Flat turns, Arrow, Fighting Wing

Question 1

What is the only formation position from which flat turns may be flown?

Answer 1

Echelon

Turn must always be away from the wingmen

Question 2

Why might a formation elect for a flat turn?

Answer 2

Permits a faster roll rate and allows manoeuvring of the formation if sat right below a cloud layer.

Question 3

What are the references in a flat turn?

Answer 3

Match AoB

Level with lead if their spinner is on the horizon (vertical position)

Canopy arch between the front and rear cockpits should meet the wing at the trailing edge (fore and aft position)

Question 4

How is height adjusted during a flat turn?

Answer 4

AoB

Question 5

What controls your distance from the leader in a flat turn?

Answer 5

Pitch

‘Pull in, push away’

Question 6

How do you adjust your fore and aft position during a flat turn?

Answer 6

Power

Aim for canopy arch to meet the wingtip trailing edge

Question 7

What is the purpose of Arrow?

Answer 7

It is a looser formation and therefore allows greater manoeuvrability in VMC.

Less taxing for the wingmen during transit and allows easier completion of checks and cockpit admin.

Question 8

What is the default ‘heavy side’ in Arrow?

Answer 8

Left

Question 9

Why is arrow not used at LL?

Answer 9

All aircraft in Arrow turn on plane with the leader, therefore the inner elements would risking breaking their safe MSD.

Question 10

What must you not do in arrow without express permission from the lead?

Answer 10

Cross the leader’s 6

Question 11

What are the references for Arrow from No. 2/4 position?

Answer 11

Fore/aft:
Offside rear tailplane and wingtips in line

Azimuth:
Engine exhaust stack within the rear boundary of the yellow wing flash

Question 12

What are the references for Arrow from No. 3 position?

Answer 12

On the fore/aft reference (rear tailplane and wingtips in line) at twice no.2s range

Question 13

What is the primary purpose of Fighting Wing?

Answer 13

Highly manoeuvrable formation

Useful in low threat environments where the weather/terrain precludes the use of wider formations, or when the lead needs to manoeuvre hard, e.g. valleys.

Question 14

What are the parameters of the cone in which the wingman aims to fly in Fighting Wing?

Answer 14

700ft to 1000ft from leader

850ft is the ideal spot

Question 15

What visual reference marks the forward limit of the wingman’s cone in Fighting Wing?

Answer 15

Diagonal made by aligning the leader’s wing tip and spinner

Question 16

What visual reference marks the rear limit of the wingman’s cone in Fighting Wing?

Answer 16

Diagonal made by aligning the leader’s tail plane with the front of the fuselage

Question 17

Why might you move further back towards the rear of the cone in Fighting Wing? What is the drawback of this position?

Answer 17

Provides the leader/formation with greater manoeuvrability (valley flying, etc)

However, it reduces the cross cover between formation elements

Question 18

What must the wingman not do when flying in Fighting Wing at LL?

Answer 18

Do not descend below the leader

Question 19

What are the datum speeds for Fighting Wing at ML and LL?

Answer 19

ML = 210 KIAS
LL = 240 KIAS

Question 20

What is the Fighting Wing workcycle?

Answer 20

Lookout - As normal, call TCAS contacts if necessary

Leader - Assess position and adjust as req.
Do not take your eyes off the leader for more than 2s at a time in order to not miss the initiation of turns, etc
(Monitoring the route and the lead’s nav helps to predict turns)

Speed - Maintain datum for ML and LL as req./adjust to position as req. on the lead

Question 21

How is a LL abort flown from Fighting Wing?

Answer 21

Lead calls the LL abort with hdg:

“Swift 1, low level abort, reference 210”

Wingman diverges away from the lead by at least 20 deg. (if terrain allows), then conducts an SOP LL abort.

Lead climbs sufficiently above SALT to allow wingmen to honour the sanctuary plan, e.g:

SALT = 5600ft
Sanctuaries - 1 = Odd, 2 = Even, 3 = +500
Lead climbs to 7000ft to allow 2 to climb to their first available Even sanctuary above SALT, 6000ft.

Lead organises formation once at or above SALT. Wingmen call ‘Blind’ or ‘Visual’ for lead’s SA and planning.

If VMC above prior to SALT and all elements are ‘visual’, the abort can be terminated and the lead can initiate a join.

Question 22

What are the SOP ‘Flinches’ if both elements are blind at LL? How can the lead control the re-organisation of the formation?

Answer 22

“Swift, Flinches”

Lead = 250ft MSD
Wingman = 750ft MSD

Lead can use a waypoint or visual feature to assist with re-location and join up of formation elements - May even regain visual on the way to the designated waypoint, in which case call it and direct eyes of the other aircraft to you. A join up can then be initiated by the lead.

Question 23

What is the Fighting Wing technique for the wingman at LL?
What position should you return to after turns and how can you adjust your position relative to the lead during turns?

Answer 23

As the lead turns, the wingman aims to manoeuvre within the cone to remain within the ideal range bracket (700-1000ft, 850ft ideal).

Once turn is complete, wingmen should return to the ideal position in order to be visible to the leader

Wingman uses lead + lag to maintain position in the turns.
Move inside and outside the turn as req. - useful to anticipate the lead’s flightpath.