EZ squadron Formation Flight

Formation Landing (2-Ship)

•Be sure both flight members are proficient formation pilots

•Don’t try this on narrow, high altitude, or gusty runways!

•Smooth turns and power management by the lead are critical

–Initial power reduction tends to induce an overshoot by the wingman. Keep alert – especially in turns!

–Always position the wingman on the outside of turns

–Keep your turns gentle

–Fly an aligned and stabilized approach with a little extra speed

•The wingman needs proficient station holding skills and confidence in his abilities under dynamic conditions

–Landing checklist complete and ready to land (where’s the gear?)

–Assume and maintain an acute “angle-off” position on final

–Maintain precise position control during rollout


	Well, you’re finally ready for the big time – a 2-ship, formation landing. But are you really ready? Be sure you are, because this is the “real deal”! Need I say that you need to be completely in control of your plane at all times, and capable of holding tight formation? Well, absolutely for sure, you do!
	It might seem like the wingman has to do all the work in a 2-ship landing. All the lead does is fly the pattern and land. Meanwhile, the wing has to demonstrate very precise station holding skills under dynamic conditions. But don’t underestimate the importance of having an experienced and precise pilot flying lead in a 2-ship landing! The lead must have an in-depth understanding of formation dynamics to avoid making a tough job a lot tougher for the wing. Smooth pitch, bank, and power changes are a must! Remember, the wing generally doesn’t know that the lead has made any changes until he notices some unexpected relative motion. Smooth power changes and gentle turns by the lead give the wingman a much better chance to adjust his power and flight path without moving noticeably out of formation – or worse!
	Remember the acute position needed for take-off? This is also the appropriate angle-off geometry for a 2-ship landing for the same reason – namely, collision avoidance on the runway. Also, wing needs to eliminate any step-down prior to arrival over the runway since he certainly doesn’t want to be touching down short while lead is still in the air. Properly flown, the wing only needs an occasional glance at the runway to verify that lead is properly aligned and to estimate the time remaining to touch-down.
	Maintaining an acute angle-off throughout the landing roll calls for a lot of concentration and skill! Beginners often tend to fall well behind the lead during final and/or rollout, exposing the flight to the potential for a collision if something goes wrong with the lead’s landing. It is also easy to overrun the lead on the ground due to different drag and rolling characteristics of the planes. The best prevention for this problem is for the lead to roll-out with a touch of residual power and no brakes until his speed has dropped well below flight speed. Don’t be afraid to use plenty of runway, that’s why they make them so long. Did I mention that you both need your gears down? Check your buddy’s gear on final!
	Lead should never, ever cross the runway centerline until he is down to taxi speed and has verified that his wing is in position and in full control of his roll-out. (A quick call – “#2 clear” helps.)