flight leader
Airborne unit head
Flight leader is the pilot in command of a small formation of aircraft, typically three to six planes operating as a tactical unit.
In military aviation, the flight leader makes real-time decisions about the group's maneuvers, coordinates attacks, and bears responsibility for the flight's mission success and safety.
The flight leader signaled for the others to break formation.
- squadronMilitary aviation unit
- wing commanderRAF officer grade
- formationCreation or arrangement
- tight formationDensely grouped arrangement
- pilotOne who steers aircraft
commander · call the shots · escort · combat air patrol · sortie · cockpit · altitude · mission · aviator · ace · dogfight · enemy contact · patrol · radio · callsign · tactical · airborne · air superiority
- Air Force Rolesairman, colonel, general, major, lieutenant
- air patrolpatrol, combat air patrol, routine patrol, coastal patrol, night patrol
- Fighter Pilotsace, fighter ace, combat pilot, dogfighter, wingman
- aviatorspilot, aviator, fighter pilot, bomber pilot, jet pilot
- Air Force Ranksairman, staff sergeant, master sergeant, second lieutenant, first lieutenant