Sport Class FAST Ground School 0 Sport Class Formation Ground School Overview AM Portion • Part I: Basic Positions Defined • Part II: The Core Maneuvers Explained • Part III: Pitchout and Rejoins • Part IV: Flying Extended Trail FLY 2 HOPS PM Portion (With Beer) • Part V: Basic Formation Principals • Part VI: Abnormal/Emergency Procedures • Part VII: FAST Policy and Program PART I BASIC CONCEPTS OF CLOSE FORMATION DEFINED 2 The Formation Concept • Most rewarding way to fly • Based on trust and confidence • Requires discipline and focus • Know “The Contract” and responsibilities “The Contract” • Flight Lead • Brief • Communicate • Navigate • Control the flight maneuvers • Monitor flight • Terminate maneuvers if flight safety is compromised “The Contract” • Wingman • Attend/understand briefing • Always maintain visual contact • Immediately advise lead if you do loose sight • Don’t hit flight lead (or anyone else either) • Follow briefed formations/positions • Maintain listening watch • Advise lead if traffic is observed • Have exit plan ready TAILORED TRAINING NOTE • Sport Class FAST Course is Tailored to Reno Air Race OPS • Training Charter: • Familiarization with FAST Procedures • Specific Procedures To Support Racing 6 Formation Composition 2-Ship • 2-Ship = 1 Element • Basic building block • #1, Lead • #2, Wing • Proximity • Parade - Close • Route – More Space Note: Parade and Fingertip are used interchangeably by some 7 The Bearing Line vs. Sightlines (Visual Reference Points) 45 8 The Bearing Line • Measured off of the nose of the lead aircraft • 45° for most aircraft • Bearing line deviation • Acute = forward of the bearing line • Sucked = aft of the bearing line 9 The Bearing Line You won’t see your desired sightlines, i.o.w… …your visual reference points will not be lined up 10 Sample Reference Points Example, RVs: RV Primary line of reference: Outboard aileron hinge on spinner 1 Secondary reference: Tip of opposite elevator behind the rudder 2 • Primary reference provides “bearing” and “step down” • Secondary reference sets spacing 1 2 11 Formation Composition, 4-Ship • 4-Ship – (2 elements) • #1 Lead • #2 Wing • #3 Deputy Lead • #4 Wing 12 Formation Composition: Qualifications • Flight Lead: Most experienced, Lead qualified. • #2: Wingman • #3: Deputy Lead (Lead Capable) • #4: Wingman • Do not put non-formation qualified pilot or inexperienced pilot as Flight Lead • Exception in training! • Instructors: may practice lead changes as desired 13 Fingertip: “Finger Four” 14 4-Ship Configurations Fingertip Fingertip Strong Left Strong Right Close Trail Echelon Diamond 15 FAST RULE ON CONFIGURATION CHANGES • Changes to flight configuration are executed from Fingertip/Finger Four position • If in other than Fingertip: • Lead will regroup in Fingertip before moving to a new configuration • Hand Signals/ Aircraft Signals/ Voice Calls • Exception is Moving to Extended Trail – Echelon to Close Trail is Standard – Close Trail to Extended Trail is an option » Must be well-briefed by Lead 16 PART II The Core Formation Events and Maneuvers 17 PART II - Format • Will discuss each maneuver in the normal flight sequence • Will cover • Position References • Visual Signals • Radio Calls • How to perform the maneuver • How Sport Class Tailors the procedures (where applicable) 18 Typical Training Profile • Formation Takeoff (Interval) • Takeoff Rejoin • Route Formation • Parade Formation • Wing-work (station-keeping) • Crossunders • Echelon turns • Pitch-out & Rejoins • Extended Trail • RTB • Recovery (overhead) 19 Flight Briefing • Most important part of the flight • Sets the tone for the whole flight • Lead will use the Sport Class Briefing Checklist • Brief the plan • Listen Up / Ask Questions • No one mans up without clear picture of expectations • Fly the plan 20 Mission Briefing: 7 step briefing format: Manual Appendix C • Time Hack • Establish Mission Objectives • Weather & Environmentals • Sequence of Events and standards to be used • Contingencies • Mission Specifics – Details on how to achieve the objectives. • Wrap Up & Final Questions 21 Briefing Highlight: Communications • Always brief a communication plan • Brief all frequencies if local flying • Initial check-in generally after engine start on Tac-1 • Frequency change protocol • Use of “Go”: Acknowledge in sequence (“check out”) • Use of “Push”: Switch without acknowledgment • Lead will check flight in on new frequency in either case • Sport Class Standard for FAST and PRS – Always use “GO” 22 Engine Start Hand Signals • “Thumbs up” passed up the line to Lead when ready to start (or as briefed) • Lead points skyward and rotates finger • Pass signal down line • Lead gives exaggerated “head nod” • Push start button when Lead’s chin hits chest 23 Taxi • Pull forward 5 feet when ready to taxi • Check In with Race Number • Not “2, 3, 4” (Tailored Ops) • Lead will call for taxi if tower in operation • Mirrors PRS procedures • Taxi In Sequence • Spacing: • In trail: 4 Ship Lengths • Staggered: 2 Ship Lengths • Tail Dragger: Extend & Weave as required. 24 Run-up • Position Aircraft to line up heads • May need to make “arc” in Run-up Area • Conduct Run-up • Check over aircraft to L & R • Pass Thumbs up from Back to Front • Look to aircraft behind when ready • This will be opposite when a Pace Plane is present • Thumbs up goes front to back with a Pace • Lead will switch flight to CTAF when thumbs up gets to him • Sport Class Standard for FAST/PRS: • No “auto switch” to CTAF/Race Control 25 Line Up Options 26 Tailored Line Up Procedures 27 Interval Takeoff • Lead call 60 kts • Racers roll in order when previous racer is 1000 ft down the runway • Takeoff on Hot side, abort to Cold side • Call the Abort • Call Cold • Last Aircraft call airborne 28 Rejoins After Interval Takeoff • Straight ahead or turning • Which side? • Typical FAST (note: Sport Class Tailored differently) • #2 always joins on inside of turn • #3 and #4 always join opposite #2 • Straight ahead – as briefed • Standard is #2 on left, #3 and #4 on right Tailored: ALL Rejoins in Sport Class FAST / PRS will be “EVERYONE JOINS TO THE OUTSIDE” • Rejoins in Part III of this Ground School 29 BREAK 30 Parade Station Keeping • Find “the bearing line” & stay on it • Scan and maintain sightlines / visual references • Wings level with lead • Constant Corrections: – Stick: slight finger pressure 1 – Throttle: “Controlled Aggression” • Don’t fixate – develop a scan 2 Example, RVs: • Primary reference provides RV Primary line of reference: “bearing” and “step down” Outboard aileron hinge on spinner • Secondary reference sets spacing Secondary reference: 1 Tip of opposite elevator behind the rudder 2 Station Keeping 101 • Establish & Maintain your Sightlines • Make constant, small corrections • Relax the “Death Grip” & “Wiggle Your Toes” • Generally correct position in a logical sequence: • Correct to the bearing line • Correct vertical stack / stepdown • Correct lateral spacing • Eventually corrections are 3D…but remember the basics 32 Station Keeping 101 • Recognition: Continuously and quickly correct back to THE LINE • Think: “small, timely corrections” • Anticipate, anticipate, anticipate • Use trim to your advantage • Correct Hand Position on stick/throttle • Oh yeah…Relax, Relax, Relax…Breath! 33 Parade Turns • For the Wingman, relative altitude and radius of turn are changing when rolling into/out of turns • Pitch, Bank and Power changes occur • Maintain Parade Sight Picture • Welded Wing • Turns away from Wing: • Add power & increase pitch (climb) • Turns toward Wing: • Decrease power & decrease pitch (descend) 34 Route Formation 2 – 4 ship widths…to 500 feet “Abeam to no further aft than the bearing line” Trend Note: When sent to route, move out, not aft 35 Route Formation • WHY ROUTE? • Checklists and “Ops Checks” • Better lookout • Long Cross Country flights to relax • Holding airborne during airshows • Signal • Radio Call • Tail Wag or Fishtail (side to side) • Wing Pilots move out to maintain lateral separation. • 2-4 ship lengths for checklists and frequency changes 36 Flying Route • Lead use moderate bank turns (60 degrees or less AOB) • Wingman on the inside of the turn: • Fly route welded wing references • Wingman on the outside of the turn: • Fly echelon references to avoid large power req. (Stack Level in turn away) • Do not “creep” back to fingertip (common error) or re-form unless directed by lead • Use good scan of lead when doing ops checks, to avoid unrecognized closure 37 Flying Route Keep your 2-4 ship interval until directed otherwise and don’t slide aft… 38 Cross-Under • Used to move aircraft from one side of Lead to the other side • Set up flight for pitch out maneuver • Get Wingman out of sun • Give Wingman a change on cross country trip 39 Cross-Under Signals Sport Class Standard is RADIO CALL. • Hand Signals • Cross-under #2 • Single, raised fist • Notify #3 first • Cross-under #3 & #4 • Fist held up & pumped twice • Aircraft Signals • Wing Dip • Dip Direction indicates which wingman moves 40 Cross-Under Execution Three part, primarily wings-level maneuver 1. Reduce power, move down and back • Add small amount of power to stop rearward movement 2. Change heading to move across to opposite side • SLIGHT aileron or rudder pressure to generate SLIGHT heading change…NO LARGE BANK OR YAW (should be imperceptible) • Maintain nose to tail distance while crossing • SLIGHT aileron or rudder pressure to re-align heading and stop cross 3. Add power, move forward & up into position 41 Cross-Under Execution