There's something about RVs that brings people together. Face it,
RVers like to socialize! In the air what this often leads
to is a form of casual formation flight, otherwise known as a gaggle.
Flying together is fun, and can have practical benefits (mutual support during
long cross-countries, for example). But is it really a good idea to "join up"
without any training or practice in formation flying techniques?
Whenever you fly in close proximity to another airplane, there is the potential for greater risk. It only makes sense that safety will be enhanced if we learn and practice a standard set of procedures before engaging in such activity. Only by doing this can we honestly say we're flying in a formation, not a gaggle. With that in mind, the Home Wing encourages its members to learn the basics of structured formation flight. The best way to start is by getting a copy of the T-34 Association's Formation Flying Manual and Formation Flying, The Art video. These have come to define the "standard" for formation flight for both warbird and homebuilt groups. Both are available through the Builder's Bookstore, www.buildersbooks.com. The Home Wing group also has some copies of the book for sale and a copy of the video for loan. Once you've read "Thuh Book", and watched "Thuh Video", you can hook up with someone who's learned and practiced the basics (preferably someone who holds an FFI card) and go out and ride along on a flight or two. Once you've got the "sight picture" down, you can brief and join up in your own plane for some practice. You don't have to have Blue Angel aspirations to realize the benefits of structured formation training and practice. Even if the only formation flying you ever do is an occasional flight with a friend to a fly-in, or quick join-up to take a picture, we guarantee you'll feel safer if you know that everyone involved has learned and practiced the basics of structured formation flight. Further Reading: The "Right Stuff" to Fly Formation, by Bill Cherwin, president of FAST Formation Flying, Inc. (FFI) Formation Standards Proficiency Program Manual [PDF] Team RV Formation Training Guide [PDF] Up Close and Personal: Formation Flying [AVweb Article]
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