"Orval Fairbairn" wrote in message
news
In article ,
"Paul Sengupta" wrote:

"William W. Plummer" wrote in message
news:9E4Tc.301121$XM6.76668@attbi_s53...
I can't imagine what being 3' away from
another airplane would be like.

Scary!

Mind you, 3' would be rather too scary.

Not when both pilots know what they are doing! Normal close formation
discipline is 3' down (wingtip to wingtip), 3' outside (wingtip to
wingtip) and 45 degrees back for wingmen.

Doesn't that make it more than 3' away then?

It is a lot easier to maintain close formation than more spread out.

If you're confident and skillful enough to do it yes, especially in steep
turns.

Do not try it until you review a good formation manual

Got the RAF manual.

review the hand signals

You want me to fly close formation AND make/watch for hand
signals? :-)

and get some formation instructors.

Got some of those. All current/ex-RAF/red arrows/display pilots.

All itt takes is brief, practice, debrief; brief, practice, debrief, etc.

Phew. Yes.

Paul