A great article.
http://www.net-magic.net/users/gordo55j/formation.htm
Formation Flying Article
-
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Fri Dec 16, 2005 3:57 pm
In the second article (posted by Redeye), the difference in turns talked about made me think of how the Thunderbirds likely setup for the "Trail-Banana" (Echelon Pass only flown during a "Low Show"). Inbound from the left in a flat (not turning yet) echelon, they basically maintain their normal "wing sight picture" with the tip of the sidewinder rail on the back edge of the canopy. Then when lead initiates the roll for the pass they simply roll and automatically change to their echelon stack instead of flying up to maintain the wing sight picture, essentially with each pilot rolling about his own axis, thereby keeping the spacing but altering the formation so it looks as if they are in trail from the ground with each pilot hidden beneath the previous one. Makes for a nice accordion effect as they pass show center too! In reality though, they are flying a true echelon turn and the optical illusion from the ground making it seem as if they are tucked underneath one another...
The transition from a "heavy" left fingertip formation to a left echelon sounds fun to try and probably one of the easiest transitions you can do, since it only involves movement along one axis during the turn when each pilot rolls individually instead of "flying the wing".
Just some food for thought...
LD
The transition from a "heavy" left fingertip formation to a left echelon sounds fun to try and probably one of the easiest transitions you can do, since it only involves movement along one axis during the turn when each pilot rolls individually instead of "flying the wing".
Just some food for thought...
LD