Tactical Formation

Question 1

Tactical 2 ship formations include

Answer 1

LAB and wedge, if lead refers to “tactical” it should mean LAB

Question 2

Element Tactical Formation parameters

Answer 2

2000-3000’ Lateral
Line Abreast (LAB) to 10 degrees aft
vertical stack -+ 500’
flown @ 200K

Question 3

Visual Reference for Fore/Aft LAB

Answer 3

put lead directly over should and in line with flash guard

Question 4

Visual Reference for lateral spacing LAB

Answer 4

2000’ ejection and helmets are visible
2500’ ejection seats discernible but not individual pilots
3000’ canopy blends together but prop blade visible

Question 5

Visual Reference for vertical stack

Answer 5

A beer can above or below horizon gives optimal 200-300’ stack and double for 500’ max

Question 6

Getting into Tactical

Answer 6

Lead can use radio or visual signal of proposing A/C, a technique for 2, before turning away from 1 set heading bug

Question 7

Corrections to remain in position

Answer 7

• 2 can use small power or altitude/spacing for Fore/Aft

- use ground references to help when fixing lateral spacing

Question 8

Tactical turns

Answer 8

• Are comm out except for Cross turn, Shackle or hook turn into 2
• 2 will end up on opposite side

Question 9

Visual signal for tactical turns (90 or 45)

Answer 9

Large wing flash in direction of turn, lead can use zipper click to get 2’s attention

Question 10

Contract for turns in tactical

Answer 10

200K, Max power, G’s to hold 200 (2-3) level turns

Question 11

Turns away from 2

Answer 11

Lead will show large wing flash

its assumed by 2 it’s a 90 but 2 must watch 1 for a 45 rollout

Question 12

Turn into 2

Answer 12

Lead will show large wing flash
its assumed by 2 it’s a 90 but 2 must watch 1 for a 45 rollout
if 2 is tight and goes belly up, 1 can tell him to rollout 45

Question 13

Deconfliction

Answer 13

-2 is responsible for deconfliction
if stack high or low maintain that stack in turn
if in doubt make a radio call C/S 2 is going high/low

Question 14

During a tactical turn is it normal to go blind

Answer 14

Yes, but whoever is blind for the moment should perform the contract turn and whoever is visual will maneuver to maintain position

Question 15

Check turn

Answer 15

use for small heading changes no more than 30 Degrees
radio call required “C/S, check 20 Left/Right”
2 doesn’t acknowledge
if radio isn’t used lead will telegraph turn but small enough not to confuse 2 into a delayed turn

Question 16

Delayed 90 turns

Answer 16

turns greater than 60 degrees of heading change

Question 17

Delayed 90 turn into 2

Answer 17

lead will perform contract turn
2 should delay until LOS increase (1 nose-on)
if tight and aft turn early
if wide and forward turn later

Question 18

Delayed turn away from 2

Answer 18

lead will signal and perform contract turn
2 will begin as soon as 1 signals for turn
2 use section line etc to help with 90

Question 19

Delayed 45 turns

Answer 19

used for 30-60 degrees

Question 20

Delayed 45 into 2

Answer 20

Similar to delayed 90 except 1 will rollout on heading
2 must be watching for the early rollout
2 will turn towards 1 slightly to generate LOS (20-30 DOB) @ LOS increase reverse turn and end up on opposite side
if 2 goes belly-up before 1 rolls out make radio call “C/S 2 rollout 45” (may happen if 2 is closer than 2000’ laterally

Question 21

Delayed 45 away from 2

Answer 21

1 will signal and 2 will turn, once 2 reaches new heading signal rollout by turning into 2

Question 22

Hook turns

Answer 22

180 degree heading change

Question 23

Hook turn into 2

Answer 23

Must called over the radio
“C/S Hook turn right/Left”
during 1st 1/2 lead is visual and should match 2’s fuselage once visual is lost perform contract turn
2 is blind thru 1st 1/2 but once past 90 start to look for 1 to match fuselage use Gs, A/S to rollout LAB

Question 24

Hook turns away from 2

Answer 24

Signal by wing flash or radio
1 will begin turn once 2 starts to turn
the 1st 1/2 2 will match lead fuselage and then go contract
1 will be contract 1st then visual to rollout LAB

Question 25

Shackle

Answer 25

place 2 on opposite side
radio call used “C/S Shackle” 2 says nothing
both start a 45 turn into each other
2 rollout once zero LOS is acquired and deconflict over or under 1!
after crossing reverse turn (lead can choose not to rollout to fix spacing) it’s 2 responsibility to get back into position (2 is responsible to pass directly over/under 1)

Question 26

Cross Turn

Answer 26

180 reversal turn but doesn’t change 2 side
radio call used “C/S Cross turn” 2 say nada
both contract turn into each other, 2 deconflict
A/C should cross at 60-90 degrees thru turn
spacing maybe wide, use but shackle to fix and complete maneuver

Question 27

Auto-Shackle Blind

Answer 27

auto shackle after a cross turn
if 1 or 2 is blind call it, and if the other if visual A/C can call continue after which the 45 turn will be initiated, visual A/C will turn to acquire zero LOS and deconflict and call “C/S 1/2 crossing low/high” or should call visual

Question 28

Fluid Truns

Answer 28

maneuver formation when little G or excess thrust is available (heavy weight/ High altitude) if 180 is needed string 2 90’s by saying “C/S fluid right/Left” turn ASAP after radio at 45 DOB

Question 29

Fluid turns into 2

Answer 29

2 should maintain less bank (30 degrees) until crossing in front of lead or match 1’s bank initially and momentarily roll out to see 1
should normally have 20-30 degrees of turn remaining when lead passes 6 then use what you need to get into position

Question 30

fluid turns away from 2

Answer 30

2 will need to roll into more bank (60 DOB) due to being behind to lead and lower nose for A/S
2 should adjust bank once in turn and gaining

Question 31

Tactical GX

Answer 31

2 slightly descending hook turns for 10-15 Sec (4-5 cycles)
Max 200-220 K (220 STD)
G warm up 4 G then G awareness 5 G
if tact turn is required before GX following Push it Up call
once completed do Ops check and deccel to 200K

Question 32

Wedge

Answer 32

used when terrain, tactics etc require increased flight maneuverability
low altitude environment

Question 33

Wedge position parameters

Answer 33

30-45 degrees off lead 6 with 2000-3000’ lateral separation and 500’ (2-300’ optimal) Vertical stack but don’t fly lower than lead in low altitude environment

Question 34

Tactical rejoin platform

Answer 34

200K 45 degrees of bank (turning) and level

Question 35

Fluid Maneuvering Floor

Answer 35

500’ above assigned area

call terminate if violation occurs or appears imminent

Question 36

Fluid Maneuvering KIO situations

Answer 36

300’ cannot be pushed, KIO if so

3/9 line passage (max is 9 AA)

Question 37

Starting parameter for Fluid Maneuvering

Answer 37

11-12K center of the area 
200K +-10K
3000' LAB for FM 1/2 3-4000' FM 3/4
Stack level +- 100'
pure pursuit 
around 4 AA

Question 38

Entry from tactical

Answer 38

Maneuvering Aircraft (MA) pushes out to 3000’ LAB
each will call ready when 200K +-10K
1 will call a check turn away from 2 “C/S check turn Lft/Rt
Training A/C will turn 45 away from MA who will set pure pursuit
TA will rollout with visual until MA is pure P, then TA reverse turn to keep MA 4 AA (MA can call tighten up or ease off) when range is 1500’ MA calls “C/S Fights On”

Question 39

Entry from pitchout

Answer 39

-

Question 40

FM parameters LvL 1

Answer 40

level to slight descend +-10 degrees
1-2 G
180-220 K
70-85%

Question 41

FM parameters LvL 2

Answer 41

Slight climb/descent (max 120 bank +- 30 degrees P)
2-4 G
150-250K
85-Max

Question 42

FM parameter LvL 3

Answer 42

level to slight descent +-10 course reversal
1-2 G
180-220K
70-85%

Question 43

FM parameter LvL 4

Answer 43

Slight climb/descent (max 120 bank +- 30 degrees P) reversal
2-4 G
150-250K
85-Max