Figure 2-7 Crosswind Procedures for Airdrops

LOW-LEVEL AND TACTICAL FORMATION

CHAPTER TWO

Figure 2-7 Crosswind Procedures for Airdrops

WARNING

Attempting to regain position by reducing power and/or airspeed

will cause a nose-high, low-power situation and may result in a

stall.

216. DZ ESCAPE

Each aircraft will execute a combat escape. After the IP calls "load clear", LEAD retracts flaps,

turns to escape heading, accelerates to enroute airspeed, and climbs or descends as required.

WING watches for LEAD's flaps to retract, waits for the IP to call "load clear", and initiates

escape by retracting flaps and accelerating to maintain/regain position.

217. RACETRACKS

A racetrack is a planned pattern to allow a formation to make multiple passes over the same drop

zone. This may be desirable for dropping large numbers of jumpers on drop zones too small to

accommodate all jumpers at the same time or for other considerations. Racetracks will be used

at the discretion of the mission commander and will be briefed prior to flight. Formation

racetrack procedures are as follows and as depicted in Figure 2-8.

Following LEAD's red light, LEAD will maintain drop run-in, altitude, and airspeed for one

minute to allow WING aircraft to complete their green light time. At the end of one minute,

LEAD will retract flaps, accelerate to enroute airspeed, initiate a climb or descent as appropriate

and execute a 180 turn to parallel the run-in course to the drop zone. Slowdown, drop, and

escape will be flown as previously described.

TACTICAL FORMATION

2-17