Had a blast flying 2-wing Finger Formation with Wook!
The last few formation flights I was pretty occupied paying attention to my bank angles, headings, AOA and all that other stuff and all sorts of other instruments, while trying to stay in formation. It made me lose my position in the formation quite a bit. This time I tucked in, came in close and stay on lead's wing no matter what. I had no time anymore to even look at the HSI or CDI for the bank angles. Just stayed focused on lead. The only way to fly good wingman is by solely focus on FL, which is my big lesson of today. Second lesson is to fly more agressively (on the controls).
Contents
0:00 start at Akrotiri
0:09 Pre-flight, load out, flight plan
04:35 Radio checks
06:18 Taxi to runway 28
08:47 Ready for line up - SID1 (west) departure
09:50 Wheels rolling
11:23 Feet wet, turn to MEZUS
14:25 Echelon Right
19:55 Left turn 180 30 degrees bank
22:24 Rejoin practice
24:10 Yardstick setup
27:08 Approaching for rejoin Echelon Right
28:44 Hold 30 degree turn, 1 break away and rejoin
33:55 1rejoins on 2's right wing
34:57 Level wings and 2 rejoins Echelon Right in left turn 30 degrees
38:31 Wings level
41:35 Right turn 30 degrees
44:26 Wings level
44:44 Left turn 30 degrees
45:02 Wings level
45:15 Right turn 30 degrees
45:51 Wings level
Full speed rejoins from Trail
500 ft drop back, transition turns 60 degree 2G for 45 degrees, straighten, hold for a few seconds, turn back in 60 degrees for 90 degrees pulling 2G, line up, full speed pull in and use airbrakes and idle to form back into position.
46:33 Try 1 Right (overshoot)
48:23 Try 2 Right (overshoot)
50:04 Try 3 Right (overshoot)
52:23 Right turn heading 270
53:20 Transition Echelon Right
53:45 Try 4 Right
57:09 Try 5 Right
59:30 Transition to Echelon Left
01:00:00 Try 1 Left
01:03:09 Try 2 Left
01:05:45 Right turn heading 360
01:07:28 Freestyle turns
01:09:50 Transition to Echelon Right
01:10:20 Transition to Echelon Left
01:11:37 Transition to Echelon Right (2 ship distance)
01:12:48 30 degree turns Left, Right Echelon Right
01:14:59 Full speed rejoin from Trail - Try 6 Right
01:19:05 Rejoin from trail by 1 Left
01:22:18 Rejoin from trail by 1 Right
01:25:40 BDA by 1
01:27:17 BDA by 2
01:29:17 45 degree right turn in Echelon Left
01:32:45 45 degree left turn in Echelon Left
01:36:28 30 degree turn to MEZUS and flight back
01:41:25 Lost communications
01:42:50 New heading 105
01:44:42 20NM out Akrotiri Approach request overhead
01:47:22 Configure TACAN for Akrotiri
01:51:01 Transition to Echelon Right for approach
01:53:00 Left descending turn, target 1500 feet, speed 250, 5 degree turn
01:54:18 Left turn to runway heading
Formation landing (First time ever!)
01:55:55 Long final
01:57:00 Short final
01:59:15 Runway vacated
Issues encountered/lessons
- Tried out VRK, the virtual Kneeboard, but it really impacts the frametime while in a Multiserver. Will probably jump back to Vaicom's Kneeboard.
- Because I had no time to mess about with instruments I have to move some more controls to my HOTAS. Radio channel presets will go there definately.
- Got in some jetwash. Stay in own lane next time.
- Trim trim trim!
- TAD Mod was not working, so had no DME below 5NM on the TAD and kept the HMCS off, to keep it easy on the eyes. Reinstall the Mod.
- Practice 2G turns at 60 degrees.
