Chapter 5 T-38 Formation Admin

CHAPTER 5

T-38 FORMATION ADMIN

500.

GENERAL

"Admin" is Air Force terminology for the outbound and inbound portions of the T-38 FORM

flight. Admin consists of the very basics of conducting Air Force formation, taking off,

recovering, and basic formations in and out of the area. Admin can be tailored to meet

individual mission requirements. Assume for example there is weather that has to be flown

through to and from the area. The admin brief will cover how we will take off, penetrate

weather, get out and back from the area and how we will recover. Another term for briefing the

Admin portion of the flight is to brief the "motherhood."

501.

GROUND PROCEDURES OUTBOUND

Ground procedures in T-38 FORM will be similar to the ground procedures in Primary

Formation. The attitude of aggressiveness starts on the ground; both flight members will do

everything they can to look good and sound good on the ground. Taxiing out to the runup will

be standard from Primary. Once in the runup check your flightmate's aircraft out for panels

secure, etc., but do it silently, there is no "Wingman in position, area clear," but do exchange a

thumbs up (initiated by Two) to confirm all flight members are ready. Once you are ready to

send Two to Sandbag, give the preparatory signal of tapping the helmet, then give the signal for

switching to the briefed frequency (Sandbag, 342.8) (in formation, a briefed manual frequency is

signaled by a closed fist; the signal looks like the Crossunder signal in Primary Forms). Check

in Two, make your call to Sandbag just like you did in Primary, then send Two to channel one.

Check in Two, then coordinate to taxi to the approach end of the active runway for a formation

takeoff (say "Section takeoff" so the tower understands).

"North Ground, 3E123 flight of two in the runup would like to taxi to the approach end of

runway XX for a section takeoff."

Once approved, taxi to the approach end of the active runway. Look good in formation on the

ground; Lead looks for ways to do this. When taxiing to the approach end, offset to one side of

the taxiway so that Two can offset opposite. Wing's job is to mirror whatever Lead does, if Lead

offsets three feet left of the yellow taxi line, then you offset three feet to the right, etc. Once at

the approach end holdshort line, make the call: "North Tower, 3E123 and flight, holding short

approach end of runway XX for a section takeoff require full-length." Once cleared for takeoff,

Lead makes the call "Tower say winds" if they have not made a wind call with your takeoff

clearance, now Lead picks the appropriate side of the runway and takes his half (Wingman

placed on the upwind side). If winds are calm, then place Two on the inside of the turn out of

traffic.

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