Two-Plane Road Reconnaissance
Operational Navigation
2.
Navigation. Be ready to assume tactical lead. Know where you are along the route at all times.
3.
Attack. Acquire the target, maintain sight of the lead, and execute the lead's plan.
MANEUVERING
The TACLEAD maneuvers the flight, while the wingman is ultimately responsible for maintaining
flight separation. The TACLEAD must both navigate the flight into a position to attack the target and
maneuver the flight off target for maximum mutual support. Use maneuvers learned in Tactical
Formation. As in TACF, the TACLEAD initiates the communications for all maneuvers. The
wingman acknowledges the lead's call with his own call sign. He also makes the "six clear" call at
the appropriate times.
CAUTION: Road recce missions are flown at low-to-medium altitudes. Be aware of altitude
when performing these maneuvers.
CHECK TURN
Use the check turn for heading changes of less than 30 degrees. The lead initiates the turn by
calling, "[lead's call sign], check left/right, twenty degrees." Both members turn immediately to the
new heading and the wingman corrects to maintain combat spread.
TAC TURN
For heading changes between 60 and 120 degrees, use the tac turn. The lead initiates the turn by
calling, "[lead's call sign], tac left/right." The flight maneuvers as in TACF, and the wingman adjusts
his turn to maintain the recce spread.
SHACKLE
This is the same shackle used in Tactical Formation. Use the shackle in road recce to correct for a
sucked or acute wingman or to move the wingman to the other side of the section. It maintains the
section heading, allows a check behind the section, and is expeditious. The lead initiates the
maneuver by calling, "[lead's call sign], shackle." The acute aircraft, whether lead or wingman,
executes a turn greater than 45 degrees across the section. The sucked aircraft maneuvers as in
the weave.
WEAVE
Use the weave in road recce to check the six of the section and move wingman from one side of the
formation to the other. Again the lead initiates the maneuver. Calling, "[lead's call sign], weave."
Both aircraft turn 45 degrees towards each other with the wingman crossing 1,000 feet above
TACLEAD. Upon returning to original heading there should be 4,000 feet lateral separation between
aircraft.
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