Is extremely close multi ship side by side formation safe?

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 1:32 am

Question on the safety of extremely close multi ship side by side formation (wingtip to wingtip)....is it a safe formation?

Uneducated pilots want to know!

cbkillion · Post by **cbkillion** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 7:52 am

I thought the same thing. It looked like there was no room for an out and if there was some contact it would cause a domino-like effect with contact going down the line. Not saying that they weren't being safe, it just looked like a little more hairy situation than the flying V with less room for error.

Take this with a grain of salt. Not only am I uneducated, I'm not even a pilot.

painless · Post by **painless** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 11:07 am

Makes you wonder what sort of legal papers had to be signed by all participants......

Post by **Spike** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 11:39 am

I was wondering if this was going to come up. I assume that we are referring to the Mythbusters episode? There didn't appear to be much room for error.

Interesting thing to do with passengers on board.

Spike

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:17 pm

Yep and yep....

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 1:31 pm

Brantel wrote:Yep and yep....but we are not allowed to discuss it over there. Too bad!

WOW!!! That is so hypocritical coming from someone who only flies wearing nomex underoos!

I think this is a perfectly VALID question and in the spirit of education and safety, I would like to chat it up!

Just recently the formation bug has bitten me once again and we have been considering polishing our collective skills and have a desire to learn.

We have done some simple 2 ship stuff but would like to take things a bit further in the future as skills are acquired.

Hmmm, maybe I am not worthy of asking these questions? I am not superpilot material. I should be ashamed.

CJ

Post by **Spike** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 2:11 pm

Bring it dude. It could be a fun conversation. Its welcome here, you know that.

Spike

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 6:19 am

Brian, from the limited formation education that I have, I am told that when you are in formation and have a problem you are expected to pull up to depart the group. Even with no power the group will depart your proximity quickly and you can then do what is required to your plane.

This is called "bugging out" from what I recall. Perhaps Wicked Stick could elaborate?

I know that he used to fly with the Clipper formation group around here and he is the one who explained this to me.

CJ

painless · Post by **painless** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 8:40 am

captain_john wrote:Brian, from the limited formation education that I have, I am told that when you are in formation and have a problem you are expected to pull up to depart the group. Even with no power the group will depart your proximity quickly and you can then do what is required to your plane.

This is called "bugging out" from what I recall. Perhaps Wicked Stick could elaborate?

I know that he used to fly with the Clipper formation group around here and he is the one who explained this to me.

CJ

Wow CJ! That was a very lucid, intelligent response! And at 6:19 in the morning too!

pazmanyflyer · Post by **pazmanyflyer** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 9:15 am

Either he's been up all night building and on his second wind or that is some great coffee!

Carlos in Arizona

On 12/3/2011 6:40 AM, RB Lists - The Hangar wrote:

captain_john wrote: Brian, from the limited formation education that I have, I am told that when you are in formation and have a problem you are expected to pull up to depart the group. Even with no power the group will depart your proximity quickly and you can then do what is required to your plane.

This is called "bugging out" from what I recall. Perhaps Wicked Stick could elaborate?

I know that he used to fly with the Clipper formation group around here and he is the one who explained this to me.

CJ

Wow CJ! That was a very lucid, intelligent response! And at 6:19 in the morning too!

Jeff Orear
RV6A N782P
Hatz Classic, makin' wing parts
Hatz build log. http://websites.Expercraft.com/painless
Peshtigo, WI

rivetbangers.com - Discussion topic http://www.rivetbangers.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=38669#38669

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captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 3:40 pm

Guys, I wish that I could take credit for being the sharp tack that you so strongly admire, but noooo...

It was already 9 AM here on the East Coast!

CJ

Wicked Stick · Post by **Wicked Stick** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 7:23 pm

http://www.teamrv.us/coppermine/index.php?cat=4

Here's a good place to get a lot of documentation on formation flying with RV's.

Brantel · Post by **Brantel** » Sun Dec 04, 2011 7:34 am

I have skimmed thru all the stuff I could find including the TeamRV stuff on formation flying and the T34 manual and I have not seen any mention of this being an approved formation. Maybe I missed it but if I did not, seems they left that one out for a reason.....