On Oct 22, 3:01*am, Bob Fry wrote:
"OF" == Orval Fairbairn writes:

* * OF BTW: What happened to the L-39 that started out in formation
* * OF with them? *He was on the left, so he should have gotten a
* * OF front-row seat to the action.

Imagine trying to continue formation into IMC...more idiocy if done.

Actually, flying formation IMC is relatively easy and common in the
military. You just close up to fingertip and stay there until lead
wags you out. Can be really vertigo inducing - in two seat planes
it's common to ask the other pilot/WSO to confirm the attitude!
Formation letdowns through weather are the normal way to return, and
if an instrument approach is required, the wingman will "drag" prior
to the IAF to establish separation.

Most clouds are not very thick and seeing the lead is easy. However,
a nice puffy cumulus can really surprise the wingman and force a rapid
separation maneuver (prebriefed, of course) when lead - 10 feet away -
disappears as you pop into the cloud!

That being said, the L-39 pilot would have been insane to follow the
Bonanza into the weather at low altitude without a clearance!

Kirk