mxsmanic

Probably should have used a better set of words.

Formation landings in the 51 is a high risk operation. It can be done
with two very experienced pilots with a good briefing on who does what
when and practice.

Did you land wings over lapped in tight formation or spread out where
an overrun would not hit the lead ship?

Did both ships make wheel landings or three point landings? Or lead
wheel and wing three point?

There is less margin for error in the tail wheel 51 than the nose
wheel birds. With the nose wheel you can tromp hard on the brakes to
prevent over running.

Have a nice day.

Big John





On Sun, 29 Jul 2007 11:09:18 +0200 (CEST), Mxsmanic
wrote:

Big John wrote:

In my 650 hours in the bird, I never saw formation landings. Sometimes
the birds got close together after touch down but the wing man never
got up into a formation position or passed the ship ahead.

I have done hundreds of formation landings in P-51s. Those two at Oshkosh
must have been total losers to crash doing something so simple.