FORMATION

Question 1

Advantages of Formation

Answer 1

1. Support the customer
   
   1. mass employement
   2. minimum-force considerations
2. deconfliction / CAF support
   
   1. Min risk routing compliance
   2. safe-passage corridor requirements
3. Maximized fuel and / or equipment in limited time/space
4. redundancy (navigation, communication, delivery)
5. simplify escort, SEAD and ISR support

Question 2

Disadvantages of Formation

Answer 2

1. Decreased maneuverability
   
   1. midair-collision and wake turbulance potential
   2. complicated defensive manuevering / threat reactions
   3. complicated countermeasure employement
   4. difficult keeping SA on wingman at night on NVG
   5. low-alt formation at night vs. SA
   6. IMC low level formation flying is challenging to impossible
2. Increased probability-of-detection
   
   1. Exposure multiple aircraft to the same threat area
   2. Increased emissions (radar, comm, sound)
3. Complex mission planning

Question 3

3-Ship Advantages

Answer 3

1. May be more appropriate to deliver mass on objective
2. Historically the standard C-130 element
3. Same general structure for both VFR and IFR formation
   
   1. Only different Spacing between aircraft
4. Facilitates escort

Question 4

3-Ship Disadvantages

Answer 4

1. Inflexible Formation
   
   1. Limit manuevering against threats
   2. Limits manuevering in dynamic situations
   3. Limits options for lead and wingmen mutual support
2. easier to detect both visually and electronically
3. IMC break procedures are different then 2-ship and can be more dangerous if not prebriefed and flown with strict adherence

Question 5

2-Ship Advantages

Answer 5

1. Increased flexibility
   
   1. Allows use of a wide range of tactics and threat countertactics
2. Simplifies formation dispersal and rejoin
   
   1. Quickly convert from a loose, wide-spread formation to a tight-set formation
3. More difficult to detect
4. Increases lead’s ability to positively control formation in a highly dynamic tactical environment

Question 6

2-Ship Disadvantages

Answer 6

1. Requires alterations to formation employement to allow mass on DZ (i.e., compression)
2. Requires more element lead capable crews for large-formation employement

Question 7

Fingertip

Answer 7

1. Close echelon
2. Inside 200 ft
3. Wingtip clearence
4. Approximately 30º aft

Question 8

Fingertip Adv/Dis

Answer 8

1. Advantages
   
   1. EXPLOITS RADAR RESOLUTION CELL
   2. Useful during poor vis
   3. Min spacing between airdrop loads (waiver)
2. Disadvantages
   
   1. Pilot fatigue
   2. POOR WINGMAN SCANNING
   3. Limited maneuverability toward wingman

Question 9

Echelon

Answer 9

1. Nose-tail separation
2. Wingtip clearence
3. Wingman on same side
4. Coaltitude

Question 10

Echelon Adv/Dis

Answer 10

1. Advantages
   
   1. Useful during rejoins: reciever / tanker refueling
   2. Ease of maintaining formation position
   3. Lead has positive control of wingman
   4. Possible to pass visual signals
2. Disadvantages
   
   1. Wingman responsible for own terrain clearence
   2. Limited maneuverability in wingman direction

Question 11

Visual Trail

Answer 11

1. 500-2000ft spacing
   
   1. 500ft ~ 0.1 NM
   2. 2000ft ~ 0.3 NM A/A TACAN
2. Coaltitude
3. Wingtip overlap
   
   1. HOOK’EM HORNS
   2. Talon 2 CUE width

Question 12

Visual Trail Adv/Dis

Answer 12

1. Advantages
   
   1. Reduced radar emissions (potentially)
   2. Greater maneuverability
   3. Easier for wingman to see lead
   4. Very usefule for formation airdrop
2. Disadvantages
   
   1. Complicates defensive maneuvering and countermeasure employment
   2. Rigid formation may not take full advantage of terrain masking

Question 13

Fluid Trail

Answer 13

1. Aft of 3 / 9 line
2. 500 ft spacing or greater
   
   1. typically 2-6K ft
   2. A/A TACAN backup
   3. Radar skin paint backup
3. 2-Ship - Ideal formation
4. 3-Ship deconfliction
   
   1. Sector
   2. Range

Question 14

Fluid Trail Adv/Dis

Answer 14

1. Advantages
   
   1. Flexible geometry but unpredictable spacing for threat reactions
   2. More maneuverable to optimize terrain masking
   3. Freedom of evasive manuevers
2. Disadvantages
   
   1. Wingman responsible for own terrain clearence
   2. May lose sight of lead if illumination / poor vis
   3. Lead does not exercise control of wingman
   4. May complicate inadvertant WX pen procedures

Question 15

Line Abreast

Answer 15

1. Even with leads 3 / 9 line
2. Spacing varies depending on terrain, visibility, illumination
   
   1. Greater than 500 ft laterally
   2. 14 WPS TFM: 6-9K ft
   3. A/A TACAN 1.0-1.5 NM

Question 16

Line Abreast Adv/Dis

Answer 16

1. Advantages
   
   1. Useful over areas of indistinct terrain
   2. Good for LOC crossings
   3. Minimizes detection from the air
2. Disadvantages
   
   1. Difficult for lead to maneuver
   2. Difficult for wingman to maintain position and clear forward for terrain, threat, obstacles