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Royal Navy Sea Harriers flying in an echelon formation. In military aviation, tactical formation flying is the disciplined flight of two or more aircraft under the command of a flight leader. [11]: 6 Military pilots use tactical formations for mutual defense and concentration of firepower. [12]: Art 17.01
Four F-16s of the USAF 457th Fighter Squadron flying in a "Finger-four" formation. The finger-four formation (also known as the "four finger formation" and the "Fingertip Formation") is a flight formation used by fighter aircraft. It consists of four aircraft, and four of these formations can be combined into a squadron formation.
Tactical formations include: [2] [3] Forlorn hope; Formation flying; Box; Coil: Similar to the Herringbone formation, the coil formation allows for 360 degree security while at the halt. This type of formation is also used when refueling aircraft as well as during resupply. Sometimes platoon leaders also use it when briefing to platoon sergeants.
Thach carried out the first test of the tactic in combat during the Battle of Midway in June 1942, when a squadron of Zeroes attacked his flight of four Wildcats. Thach's wingman, Ensign R. A. M. Dibb, was attacked by a Japanese pilot and turned towards Thach, who dove under his wingman and fired at the incoming enemy aircraft's belly until its engine ignited.
The tactical formation, however, is the twoship with hot spare (the English term is used), the third aircraft being released before reaching the target if none of the others had to be sent back earlier. The Kette (meaning chain) of three aircraft is a historic term. These terms refer to groups of aircraft only and are not used for ground units.
Four OS2U Kingfisher airplanes flying in right echelon formation. An echelon formation (/ ˈ ɛ ʃ əl ɒ n, ˈ eɪ ʃ l ɒ̃ /) [1] is a (usually military) formation in which its units are arranged diagonally. Each unit is stationed behind and to the right (a "right echelon"), or behind and to the left ("left echelon"), of the unit ahead.
The formation flies over the ceremony low enough to be clearly seen and the second element leader abruptly pulls up out of the formation while the rest of the formation continues in level flight until all aircraft are out of sight. [4] In an older variant, the formation is flown with the second element leader position conspicuously empty. [4]
A flying wedge (also called flying V or wedge formation, or simply wedge) is a configuration created from a body moving forward in a triangular formation. This V-shaped arrangement began as a successful military strategy in ancient times when infantry units would move forward in wedge formations to smash through an enemy's lines.