Friday, May 27, 2011

Cessna 172 formation flying

Being a pilot who likes flying low, this just straight looks like fun. I used to live in sparse Northern Michigan and other than the few trips over parts of the lake I rarely was over 500ft. Why would you want to. For all you saying they are breaking rules..Your idiots. The FARS say 500ft from any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure. Trees and rivers don't fit in this category
This looks fun as hell and is totally legal in every sense of the word and the regulations. I would totally try this if i had two planes, one forme and another pilot, his consent on formation and not-so-straight-and-level flight, and a tempting geographical formation to fly over/under/or through.
However....what if the engine decides to quit?
The FAA defines formation flying requirements in FAR section 91.111: “Operating near other aircraft. (a) No person may operate an aircraft so close to another aircraft as to create a collision hazard. (b) No person may operate an aircraft in formation flight except by arrangement with the pilot in command of each aircraft in the formation. (c) No person may operate an aircraft, carrying passengers for hire, in formation flight.” For me, the definition of formation flying is operating aircraft relative to one or more aircraft.
i just got my pilots license and i really want to formation fly soon but i will definitely take a instructor up cause there is no room for error, but it looks fun..
The formation flight ..Link to flying low .. briefing is usually done by the lead pilot and includes all aspects of the flight profile such as weather, airport and communications information, potential issues (e.g., dissimilar airplanes), takeoff and join-up procedures, flight route, maneuver profile, landing operations and emergency procedures. Communications are extremely important to safely conducting a formation flight and must be understood by all flight members.

This article is a description of techniques I employ on formation flights—it isn’t a substitute for training. Flying formation is an easy way to die, and engaging in a formation flight without proper dual instruction is unthinkable!
Link to..Landing Low.. It's the Toncontin International Airport. The most dangerous airport in the world.

To successfully land at Toncontin, pilots must fly over the mountains and turn left at an angle of 45 degrees for a few minutes before the plane touched the runway


Responsibilities
There are large differences between the responsibilities of the lead pilot (“lead”) and those of the wing pilots (“wing”). Lead must think, communicate and provide a safe and smooth flight profile. Lead must trust wing, be extremely consistent, plan for issues such as formation size and time requirements, and accommodate a large enough power advantage required by wing to stay in position. Good lead pilots will have a very consistent roll rate and pitch change, and will keep the formation in level flight or turning at a 30- to 40-degree bank. The lead pilot should usually be the best pilot in the group.
Being a pilot who likes flying low, this just straight looks like fun. I used to live in sparse Northern Michigan and other than the few trips over parts of the lake I rarely was over 500ft. Why would you want to. For all you saying they are breaking rules..Your idiots. The FARS say 500ft from any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure. Trees and rivers don't fit in this category
This looks fun as hell and is totally legal in every sense of the word and the regulations. I would totally try this if i had two planes, one forme and another pilot, his consent on formation and not-so-straight-and-level flight, and a tempting geographical formation to fly over/under/or through.
However....what if the engine decides to quit?
The FAA defines formation flying requirements in FAR section 91.111: “Operating near other aircraft. (a) No person may operate an aircraft so close to another aircraft as to create a collision hazard. (b) No person may operate an aircraft in formation flight except by arrangement with the pilot in command of each aircraft in the formation. (c) No person may operate an aircraft, carrying passengers for hire, in formation flight.” For me, the definition of formation flying is operating aircraft relative to one or more aircraft.