Precision Flight Team Maneuvers by Voltano

Voltano · Post by **Voltano** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 2:29 am

Here is the preliminary flight setup for the VXF V-7 maneuver.

Do you (VTB) have any flight path sequence illustrations or diagrams showing the maneuvers that you do?

Can the colors of the smoke trails be changed to red, white and blue instead of green?

I think the Virtual Thunderbirds are one of the best cyber flight teams and I am one of the many that are thankfull and glad they exist.

Keep up the good work gentlemen.

Rock · Post by **Rock** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 2:33 pm

Hi Voltano. Very interesting pictures you have posted in this thread. Not being a VTB member I don't know if the team has pictures of its manuevers. But, in the VTB's Library section of their home page is a document that describes their entire show in detail. It is titled manuever SOPs. Also if you go to the following link it has real world video of all the Thunderbird manuevers http://www.stevesairshow.com If you use these two devices you can learn the entire show and all its manuevers as performed by both the real world team and the VTB.

I appreciate your creativity and ideas and commend you for your efforts to expand the possiblities of Formation Flying both in the Virtual World and the Real World. But, as a very dedicated Virtual Formation Flyer I can definately say that it takes an enormous effort to do the established Thunderbird manuevers. For example, I would estimate that it takes the average virtual pilot around 3 months (4 practices a week plus) to learn how to fly in a wing position and perhaps the slot. It takes about another 3 months to improve that position while learning SOPs like the Virtual Thunderbirds have created. And then it will take about another 6 months to feel comfortable in a formation position and try to perfect your abilities. That is only the beginning as the learning doesn't end there. That is just my take on it but perhaps others would disagree.

One thing I would suggest is to try some of the VTB manuevers first while flying with a Leader inorder to see any limitations that may apply to the manuevers that you are creating. Also, if you can get a written document that explains how the manuever is to be flown, i.e. flight parameters, lead calls etc.

Tomcatboy48237 · Post by **Tomcatboy48237** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 10:51 pm

Steve doesn't have his videos from this year up yet, but I've got mine done.

Recreating maneuvers is probably harder than making up your own, because you can't change them as you go. I'd say keep up the good work and don't change a thing.

Rock · Post by **Rock** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 12:35 pm

Excellent website Tomcat! Really enjoying the videos, especially as I have been working hard to understand the VTB 2006 SOPs and show manuevers. What was really nice is that now that I have a fairly clear understanding of entry and exit points for the manuevers it was easy to anticapate which way the diamond and solos were coming from in your videos. Very cool indeed!

Voltano · Post by **Voltano** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 12:33 am

Tomcatboy48237 wrote:Recreating maneuvers is probably harder than making up your own, because you can't change them as you go. I'd say keep up the good work and don't change a thing.

I agree, recreating existing flight maneuvers requires flying within operational parameters.
The Virtual Thunderbirds cyber rendition performance is excellent.

*Tomcatboy - I really like your website about airshows.

You did some excellent work there and while you were visiting New York City, you were a few blocks away from where I live in Battery Park City.
Keep up the good work and thank you for making such a good website.

My intention of this thread is NOT about 'changing' the VTB flight routine.
I am only illustrating one of the many flight maneuvers I have designed.

I just thought that this site is visited by many pilots ( real & virtual ) and perhaps they would like to try performing a new flight maneuver.
It's really not too difficult, it just takes timing and my team will be releasing a movie showing us performing this maneuver soon.

I hope that I am not out of line here, I just wanted to share one of my ideas in the interest of high performance flight team maneuvers that you are all welcome to have.

Happy flying to all.

Sinister · Post by **Sinister** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 11:43 pm

First I have to say that the word "cyber" is bugging my eyes...

I don't mean to be a sour note in this, but I have been reading and looking at the pictures and can't see how any Virtual or Actual Formation Flight Team would even be able to execute any of these manuevers.

They are too far fetched in my opinion. I mean it's one thing to think up new maneuvers, but it's another to actually fly them. It's about Formation FLYING...or lamens terms: Flying In Formation, and the maneuvers part would be about executing a maneuver while flying in that formation. The only ones that should be doing any HIGH SPEED OPPOSING PASSES should be the SOLOS, not groups of 6 or 8 aircraft.

I am not a Virtual Thunderbird, I am a former Virtual Blue Angel as well as Lead for the Freebirds Formation Flying Team along with Rock so I do know how hard it is to fly.

I just couldn't take what you posted and explained seriously.
If you have some track files of these maneuvers that would definitely change my opinion.

Post by **Lawndart** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 8:13 am

Voltano,

I haven't been able to access the internet fully the last couple of weeks and just saw your "illustrations". The "3-3 Breakaway Loop" is an actual maneuver performed by the Red Arrows under a different name. Boss breaks away with the right and left wingmen (2 & 3) while their Slot pilot breaks away with a right and left wingman as well. The initial planform looks slightly different from a Delta in that "5 & 6" would be flying directly behind 2 & 3 instead of outboard of them (can't remember what they call that formation right now).

We currently do not have illustrations of our maneuvers; however, armed with our SOPs and any video from www.stevesairshow.com or www.airshowstuff.com and you'll have an even better idea of the Tbird maneuvers! Sometime in the future there are plans for improved documentation with illustrations and a professional layout, but just as with everything high quality - it takes time, but will be well worth the wait!

Helmet · Post by **Helmet** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 1:17 am

VFAT 2009?

Post by **Lawndart** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 1:22 am

Ok, seriously... a three year old thread!?

Posting and YOU...