Yeah -- LEAD SCREWED UP!Is there a particular reason you weren't aligned with the runway centerline as you approached the field prior to and during the break??
Yeah -- LEAD SCREWED UP!
Good, because that's FFI standard (and the RV formation folks use FFI standards). Lead lands on the downwind side of the runway, two lands on the opposite side, and the rest of the formation staggers the same way. Helps avoid folks running over each other if there's a brake problem. Then, as necessary (not needed in this video's case as lead took the right side and the exit was right), each pilot (once under control with brakes tested) clears the preceding pilot across to the exit side. Had these two been exiting left with a left crosswind (so lead would land on the downwind right side), Two would say, once brakes tested and under control, "Lead's cleared over" and lead would then cross to the left side.(Note: I omitted comment about the landing...which was also off center.)
Good, because that's FFI standard (and the RV formation folks use FFI standards). Lead lands on the downwind side of the runway, two lands on the opposite side, and the rest of the formation staggers the same way. Helps avoid folks running over each other if there's a brake problem. Then, as necessary, each pilot clears the preceding pilot across to the exit side.
The alternative is the "Sturdy" landing (named for Col. Stu "Sturdy" McCurdy, USAF (ret), who is pretty much the godfather of light plane formation flying) in which each plane lands on the centerline and when under controls, eases to the exit ("cold") side. If someone has a problem, they go to the "hot" (opposite the exit) side.
Yeah -- it's a fighter thing, and the FFI materials were mostly written by folks with F-4/F-16 background (primarily Sturdy, who was, IIRC, Chief of TAC Stan/Eval).The fat boys I flew needed all the runway width, and we rarely were in a two ship.
Yeah -- it's a fighter thing, and the FFI materials were mostly written by folks with F-4/F-16 background (primarily Sturdy, who was, IIRC, Chief of TAC Stan/Eval).
The alternative is the "Sturdy" landing (named for Col. Stu "Sturdy" McCurdy, USAF (ret), who is pretty much the godfather of light plane formation flying) in which each plane lands on the centerline and when under controls, eases to the exit ("cold") side. If someone has a problem, they go to the "hot" (opposite the exit) side.
OBTW...nitpicking aside...Looks like a great day and a load of fun!!!
OBTW...nitpicking aside...Looks like a great day and a load of fun!!!
(Please excuse the overkill on the music).
A couple weeks ago I was in an 18 ship flight shown in this video. I was the lead of the second 3 ship element and the video was shot from my left wingman (Bravo 3). The preflight walk through had to be repeated when lead made his initial circle so tight he "flew" through the rest of the formation. All in all it went OK (yes my #2 got kinda sucked on takeoff and the left wing of the last group was a bit out of position) especially considering that several of the participants had just completed their first 4ship training the day before.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeuvBJip5Ig
(Please excuse the overkill on the music).
A couple weeks ago I was in an 18 ship flight shown in this video.