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Sport Class FAST Formation Flight Training Overview

Learn essential formation flying maneuvers & procedures in sport class planes. Master core concepts & build trust with your wingman. Follow standard formations for safety.

charlesgscott
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Sport Class FAST Formation Flight Training Overview

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  1. Sport Class FAST Ground School

  2. Sport Class Formation Ground School Overview Part I: Basic Positions Defined Part II: The Core Maneuvers & Procedures Part III: Pitchout and Rejoins Part IV: Flying Extended Trail Part V: Safety

  3. BASIC CONCEPTS OF CLOSE FORMATION PART I

  4. The Formation Concept • Challenging and Rewarding way to fly • Based on Trust and Confidence • Requires Discipline and Focus • Know “The Contract”and YourResponsibilities

  5. “The Formation Contract” Flight Lead Brief / Debrief Fly stable platform Control the flight maneuvers Monitor flight Terminate maneuvers if flight safety is compromised Navigate Communicate

  6. Wingman Attend/understand briefing Always maintain visual contact Immediately advise lead if you do lose 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 “The Formation Contract”

  7. TAILORED TRAINING NOTE • Sport Class FAST Course is Tailored to Reno Air Race OPS • Training Charter: • Familiarization with FAST Procedures • View-ahead Brief • Specific Procedures To Support Racing

  8. Formation Composition2-Ship 2-Ship = 1 Element Basic building block #1, Lead #2, Wing Proximity Fingertip - Close Route – More Space

  9. 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

  10. The Bearing Line Universal Sightline = Wingtip to Spinner

  11. Fingertip: “Finger Four”

  12. Formation Composition,4-Ship 4-Ship – (2 elements) #1 Lead #2 Wing #3 Deputy Lead #4 Wing

  13. 4-Ship Configurations Fingertip Strong Left Fingertip Strong Right Close Trail Echelon Diamond

  14. Directed with Radio Calls Respond with Race Number Hand Signals / Aircraft Signals Exceptions = Pitchout Signal & Rejoin Signal Executed from Fingertip/Finger Four position If in other than Fingertip: Lead will regroup in Fingertip then move to a new configuration Lead may brief alternative for specific training events One exception is Moving to Extended Trail Pitchout from Echelon to Ext Trail is Standard Radio Call, 3 second interval, 4 calls in with separation Must be well-briefed by Lead SCARA RULE ON CONFIGURATION CHANGES

  15. PART II The Core Formation Events and Maneuvers

  16. PART II - Format Will discuss each maneuver in the normal flight sequence Will cover Position References Radio Calls Visual/Aircraft Signals for Pitchouts and Rejoins) How to perform the maneuver How Sport Class Tailors the procedures (where applicable)

  17. Typical Training Profile • Interval Takeoff • Takeoff Rejoin • Route Formation • Fingertip Formation • Wing-work (station-keeping) • Cross-unders • Echelon turns • Pitch-out & Rejoins • Extended Trail • RTB • Recovery (overhead)

  18. Critical to success 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 Flight Briefing

  19. Time Hack Establish Mission Objectives Weather & Environmentals Sequence of Events and standards to be used Mission Specifics Details on how to achieve the training objectives. Contingencies Wrap Up & Final Questions Flight Briefing

  20. Briefing Highlight:Communications • Always brief a communication plan • Brief all frequencies if local flying • Initial check-in after engine start is generally on CTAF • During FAST Freq Plan is CTAF-Tactical-CTAF • During PRS Freq plan is GND – Race Control • 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”

  21. After Flight BriefSpot Aircraft • Find tow driver—offer bribe • Spot At least 20 Minutes prior to Take-off • Lead Designates Spot and Start Times • Meet for final brief at Lead’s airplane • “No Prop Turn” line in effect • Do not taxi or coast across it!

  22. No Prop Turn Line

  23. Engine Start Be ready to start at briefed start time Ensure area is clear of all but crew Start when lead starts If everyone in flight is turning, fire-it-up! Brief Non-standard Start Requirements Early Starts for Radials, etc

  24. Check-in / Taxi Pull forward 5 feet when ready to taxi FAST - Check In on CTAF with Race Number PRS – Check in on Ground Control Taxi In Sequence Spacing: In trail: 4 Ship Lengths Staggered: 2 Ship Lengths Tail Dragger: Extend & Weave as required. BRIEF THIS!

  25. Run-Up Area Procedures • Taxi into Pad in trail • Angle to fit more aircraft in • Run-up complete, check aircraft on both sides • Last starts thumbs up moving forward • Each aircraft passes thumbs up forward • Pole or first wing calls ready to Lead/Pace “52 Ready” Lead/Pace

  26. Run-up • All Aircraft do Run-up on their own • No run-up signal required • Wingmen Pass Thumbs-up back to front • First Wingman calls “XX Ready” to Lead • Lead switches flight to Race Control Frequency (“Go”) • Do not auto switch to Race Control • Check-In with Race number • Lead announces Flight’s departure on CTAF • Line-up and Launch using Sport Class procedures

  27. Line-Up • First Wing taxis down runway to allow all members of the flight to stop on South (cold) side of the runway (new for 2016) • Angle 45 degrees to the runway heading • Lead follows flight onto runway • When Cleared for TO, Lead taxis past all aircraft • Racers give thumbs up to Lead/Pace • Lead/Pace Rolls and Calls 60 knots Revised March 2015

  28. Interval Takeoff Lead call 60 kts Racers roll in order when previous racer is 1000 ft down the runway Last Aircraft call airborne Takeoff on Hot side, Abort to Cold side Hot side is away from stands (N side) Cold side is turnoff side (S side, towards stands) Control the Aircraft Call the Abort Call Cold

  29. Hot Side / Cold Side N S Revised March 2015

  30. Rejoins After Interval Takeoff Standard is a Turning Rejoin Which side? Tailored: ALL Rejoins in Sport Class FAST / PRS will be “Everyone Joins to the Outside of the Turn” Typical PRS/Race flight will be left rejoin turns Join to right echelon FAST hops will practice rejoins in both directions Rejoins discussed in Part III of this Ground School

  31. BREAK

  32. Formation Station Keeping Universal Sightline = Wingtip to Spinner

  33. Formation 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 Throttle: “Controlled Aggression” Don’t fixate – develop a scan 1 2 1 2 Example, RVs: RV Primary line of reference: Outboard aileron hinge on spinner Secondary reference: Tip of opposite elevator behind the rudder • Primary reference provides “bearing” and “step down” • Secondary reference sets spacing

  34. 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

  35. Recognition: Continuously and quickly correct back to THE LINE Think: “small, timely corrections” Anticipate, anticipate, anticipate Use trim to your advantage Correct Hand Positionon stick/throttle Oh yeah…Relax, Relax, Relax…Breath! Station Keeping 101

  36. Fingertip 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 awayfrom Wing: • Add power & increase pitch (climb) • Turns towardWing: • Decrease power & decrease pitch (descend)

  37. Route Formation 2 – 4 ship widths…to 500 feet “Abeamto no further aft than the bearing line” Trend Note: When sent to route, move out, not aft

  38. 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 outto maintain lateral separation. 2-4 ship widths for checklists and frequency changes

  39. Flying Route Turns 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 Use good scan of lead when doing ops checks To avoid unrecognized closure

  40. Flying Route Keep your 2-4 ship spacing until directed otherwise, and don’t slide aft…

  41. 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 Sport Class Standard is RADIO CALL.

  42. Cross-Under Execution Three part, primarily wings-level maneuver Reduce power, move down and back Add small amount of power to stop rearward movement Change heading to move across to opposite side SLIGHT aileron/rudder pressure to create SLIGHT heading change NO LARGE BANK or YAW (should be imperceptible) Maintain nose to tail distance while crossing SLIGHT aileron/rudder pressure to re-align heading and stop cross Add power, move forward & up into position

  43. Cross-Under Execution

  44. DOWN and back Controlled move ACROSS UP and forward Cross Under Avoid rounding the corners!

  45. Echelon

  46. Echelon All aircraft on the same side of lead Used for: Pitch outs Traffic pattern Flying to the Chute

  47. Turning In Echelon Only turns away from wingmen in echelon All aircraft pivot on longitudinal axis Fuselage of Lead aircraft and aircraft ahead split the horizon Do not unload in echelon

  48. Line Abreast Formation • Flown in the Start Chute • Will be practiced in the working area • Flown on the 3/9 line (wingtip to wingtip) • Lateral Spacing (in/out) is challenging • Banking causes spacing difficulties • Tendency is to roll where you look (so don’t!)

  49. Ops Checks and Fuel Management • “Ops Check” • All in-flight checks performed in route formation • Check fuel, fuel balance and engine parameters • Report parameters as required. • Fuel State in minutes • Flight Lead radio call and acknowledgment: • “Sport 5 flight Ops Check”…“5: 55” • “22: 45”“2: 55”“39: 50”

  50. Fuel Management • “Bingo” • Fuel state at which flight must terminate to return with legal minimums or as briefed by the Flight Lead • Day VFR: 30 Minutes Reserve • Generally briefed in ‘Time’ - fuel remaining in minutes in dissimilar aircraft formations • Example report: “Raven 3 is bingo plus 5” • Do not overfly briefed bingo!

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