Operational Navigation Flight Training Instruction
Two-Plane Road Reconnaissance
3.
4.
2.
5.
3. Roll-in
1. Acquisition
2. Initiate
4. Release
pop-up
5. Rejoin
Target
Figure 15: ROAD RECCE
THE ROLL-IN
The roll-in will be executed upon reaching the 30-degree attack cone. This is approximately two miles
from the target. The perception of the attack cone can be drawn from your experience in the weapons
pattern. In a perfect world, the pop would come at four miles, each would fly to their pull down altitude as
they reached the attack cone with lead reaching the cone first and wingman reaching the cone 1,000 ft
later, each would roll-in and the high/low split would be established. This occasionally happens, but
usually there is some degree of flexing to the situation. Upon reaching the attack cone (even if the apex
altitude is not reached), the lead will immediately call "[call sign] in low" while simultaneously pulling up to
17 units towards the target. If the lead delays the "in low" call, the wingman will be forced to arc around
the attack cone which may result in the wingman going to high cover. The wingman will delay his roll in
until he hears the lead call "in low" to establish the high/low split. Once the wingman sees the lead below
the horizon, he should roll in if on the attack cone or continue to intercept the cone and roll in. The high/
low split will help to deconflict the aircraft over the target and will usually result in lead being in front of the
wingman. After the wingman has performed his roll-in, he will immediately look for the lead by scanning
from the target up the 30-degree cone until reacquiring the lead below his altitude. With the lead in sight,
the wingman will call "[call sign] in high, visual." If the lead is not reacquired, the wingman will call "[call
sign] off high cover, blind" and egress toward the assigned heading. The last consideration is when the
pop is executed early. The apex (and top of the route) may arrive before the aircraft is on the attack cone.
The correction for this is to level off at apex altitude and drive until intercepting the cone. Again, the
wingman will need to delay by arcing around the attack cone to allow the high/low split to occur then roll in.
(Figure 16)
(7-99) Original
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