DRAFT
The key to minimizing relative motion while flying
division, especially as Dash-3 and Dash-4, is to
maintain bearing and stepdown off the lead, while
maintaining wingtip separation on the aircraft ahead.
The fingertip formation is established from echelon
(see Figure 36, Echelon Parade) in two ways as in
Figure 35: 1) having Dash-2 crossunder, or 2) having
the section crossunder.
In the first case, the lead signals for a crossunder.
Dash-2 passes the signal to Dash-3. Dash-3 does not
pass the signal to Dash-4 due to section integrity.
Dash-2 executes a "V" crossunder. When Dash-2 is
clear, Dash-3 moves up to parade position on the
lead's wing, and Dash-4 maintains parade position on
Dash-3.
In the second case, the lead signals for a section
crossunder. Dash-2 and Dash-3 pass the signal down
the line, and the section (Dash-3 and Dash-4)
executes a section crossunder. For a section
crossunder, Dash-3 executes a "V" crossunder,
maintaining nose-to-tail separation on Dash-2, and
continues to a parade position on Dash-2, who is on
the lead's opposite wing. As Dash-3 executes the
crossunder, Dash-4 executes a "V" crossunder on
Dash-3, controlling relative motion so that Dash-3 is
always between Dash-4 and the lead. The second
section lead (Dash-3) should not rush this maneuver
because his wingman must travel a greater distance,
causing the wingman to possibly lose proper position
or to be spit out.
PARADE TURNS
As a wingman in a division, your position relative to the
lead during turns is the same as in section parade turns,
except that Dash-4 maintains position off of Dash-3.
When the lead turns away from your position, you rotate
about your longitudinal axis. When the lead turns into
your position, rotate about the lead's axis. Because
Dash-4 is farther from the lead's radius of turn, Dash-4
must apply larger power adjustments to maintain
position.
ECHELON PARADE
Echelon parade (Figure 36) is formed when all aircraft
are on the same side of the lead along a common 30-
degree bearing line and each aircraft is in parade position on the preceding aircraft. Dash-2 will fly a slightly
stepped down parade position to allow the other aircraft to maintain sight of the lead.
DRAFT
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