Tac Format Flight
Tac Format Flight
Tac Format Flight
2
TACTICAL FORMATIOM FLIGHT
2. Tactical Formation Maneuvering
2.1. Control of the Flight.
The combat cruise and combat spread formations increase the flight leader’s flexibility in
controlling the flight. They also promote security by providing overlapping fields of view.
Normal cruise principles can be used for most turns in the combat cruise position. Break
turns are turns effected to face an enemy attacker and are easy to manage from the
basic combat cruise position if the concepts of flight lead and tactical lead are
understood. The flight leader is the designated NATOPS formation leader responsible for
organizing and controlling the flight from planning through debriefing. On the other hand, the
tactical lead is not determined by rank, experience, or ability. During attack, the aircrew of
the aircraft that is directly engaged normally becomes the tactical leader. At this point,
the tactical wingman is responsible for maintaining separation between aircraft and providing
mutual support .
Obviously, the tactical formation maneuvers described in this chapter can be utilized during
ACM engagements; however, their use should not be limited to just that arena. These
maneuvers are also very useful in simply directing a section of aircraft from point A to point
B.
Note: Unless an engagement forces the tactical lead to change from one aircraft to another,
the tactical lead will not typically change hands during any of these maneuvers. Rather, the
wingman should vary angle of bank or airspeed in order to resume an appropriate position
once the maneuver is completed (e.g. a split turn initiated while a section is in a combat cruise
formation will require that the wingman lessen his angle of bank so that he does not roll out of
the turn in front of his leader).
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2.3. Basic Maneuvers
2.3.1.1. The Tac Turn Away From the wingman in Combat Cruise.
In this turn, the lead must hold the original heading until after the command, tac left (or right),
is given. When the wingman receives the command, he immediately turns to the new
direction and rolls out. As the wingman approaches the tactical lead's 5 o'clock position for a
left turn or 7 o'clock position for a right turn, the lead turns to the new direction (see figure 3-
3) .
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Tac Turn Into the Wingman in Combat Cruise
Figure 3-4
2.3.1.3. The Tac Turn Away From the Wingman in Combat Spread.
This type of turn depends on the position of the aircraft in relation to the turn rather than the
lead's or wingman's position. The aircraft on the outside of the turn initiates the turn.
Once the command is given, the tactical leader maintains his heading. The tactical wingman,
upon receiving the command, immediate1y turns to the new direction and passes behind
the lead. As the wingman passes the lead's 5 o'clock position for a left turn or 7 o'clock
position for a right turn, the leader turns to the new direction (see figure 3-5).
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Note: All tac turns are easily understood if analyzed from the following perspective :
2. The aircraft on the outside of the turn will always turn first.
Note: Aircrews must take care to ensure that adequate separation exists between aircraft prior
to commencing a center turn. In any case, the tactical wingman is always responsible for
clearance.
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Center Turns
Figure 3-7
In Place Turns
Figure 3-8
Split Turns
Figure 3-9
Cross Turns
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Figure 3-10
Break Turns
Figure 3-11
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Dig and Pinch
Figure 3-12
2.3.8. Cover.
The command, «cover», can be added to any of the other formation maneuvers to tell the tac
wingman to break the horizontal plane with the tac leader by either increasing or
decreasing his altitude. For example, the command, «cross turn and cover», if given in the
low level flight regime, would tell the tac wingman to take the outside of the turn and
increase altitude to break the horizontal plane with the tac leader. This command is
particularly useful in cross turns and break turns because it is often difficult to avoid creating
a linear target when employing these turns during an ACM, engagement (see figure 3-13).
Cover
Figure 3-13
Chapter 3.2
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