formation flying
Coordinated group flight
Formation flying is the coordinated flight of multiple aircraft maintaining fixed positions relative to each other.
Military jets fly in formation for tactical advantage and visual impact; aerobatic teams use tight formations for airshows.
The lead aircraft sets course and speed while wingmen hold their positions: The squadron practiced formation flying over the desert.
- wingmanSupportive second in formation
- flight leaderPilot in charge of formation
- squadronMilitary aviation unit
- in syncMoving in unison
- rollList of names
slipstream · Thunderbirds · Blue Angels · geese · trail · chevron · diamond · smoke trails · delta · visual cues · flock · echelon · aerobatics · airshow · aircraft · wingtip · aerial refueling · radio communication
- air showsairshow, air show, aerial displays, Thunderbirds, Red Arrows
- Aviation HistoryWright Brothers, Wright Flyer, Wright brothers, Kitty Hawk, first flight
- bird behaviorssoaring, perching, nesting, migrating, preening
- synchronized movementsynchronized swimming, murmuration, schooling, unison, lockstep
- flight simulationcockpit, flight controls, flight simulator, joystick, landing
- flight trainingflight training, flight school, flight instructor, student pilot, solo flight