FoRmAtioN Flashcards
Types of non-tactical formations:
- Echelon
- Staggered
Parameters for Echelon formation
- Spacing: between 250ft - 0.5nm
- Positioned in 45deg line from the lead aircraft
Parameters for Staggered formation
- Spacing: between 250ft - 0.5nm
- Positioned between 45 - 60 deg aft of the preceding aircraft
Types of tactical formations:
- Fluid Trail
- Combat Cruise
- Combat Spread
Parameters for Fluid Trail formation
- En route spacing: 0.5 - 1.0 nm
- IP inbound spacing: 0.1 - 1.0 nm
- Positioned within +/-45 cone behind preceding aircraft
Parameters for Combat Cruise formation
- Positioned anywhere in lead’s aft hemisphere
- En route spacing: 0.5 - 1.0 nm
- IP inbound spacing: 0.1 - 1.0 nm
Parameters for Combat Spread formation
- Positioned 10 - 20 deg behind lead’s abeam
- Spacing: 0.5 - 1.5 nm
Standard en route formation position is ______ with recommended ______ spacing.
- Fluid trail
- 0.5 - 1.0 nm
What is the standard climb out?
- Tactical climb
Describe Tactical Climb
Lead will:
- maintain 95% Qm or maximum continuous power (whichever is less)
- 170 KCAS
Describe Cruise Climb
Lead will:
- maintain 170 KCAS at 1,000fpm, then 500fpm above 10,000ft MSL until reaching cruising altitude
What is the standard formation descent?
Maximum Range Descent
Describe Maximum Range Descent
Lead will:
- descend using idle power, 200 KCAS, and an approx. 3,500 fpm rate of descent
What should lead NOT do?
- Exceed 95% Qm in cruise/climb
- use less than 20% Qm during decel/descent
- use greater than half-rate nacelle movement
- use nacelle settings aft of 92deg during deceleration for landing
Wingman responsibilities include:
- maintaining position in the formation
- independently navigating and clearing terrain and obstacles
- backing up flight lead and assuming lead, if required
- notifying lead if visual contact with formation aircraft is lost
- advising all formation aircraft of detected threats
- advising flight lead, via radio, of deviations that may jeopardize mission accomplishment
“ALPHA CHECK”
Request for confirmation of bearing and range form aircraft to described point
“BLIND”
No visual contact with wingman because of terrain, excessive distance, or evasive maneuvers due to threat engagement
“CLOAK”
Switch from normal or overt external lighting to covert night-vision device only compatible lighting
“LOST VISUAL CONTACT”
When a formation that intended to remain in VMC inadvertently penetrates weather
“SADDLED”
Wingman or element has returned to briefed formation position
“SET”
In LVA, advises formation that they are safely on the ground.
Minimum taxi distance from other aircraft:
100ft
Vertical stack minimum distance from other aircraft:
25ft
