algherghezghez Posted November 30, 2023 Posted November 30, 2023 Please let your wingman take off with you, I'm pretty sure pair take off is the norm, so let the AI take off with you even if you are not starting from the runway (which is the only method now) 1
ggerman2862 Posted November 30, 2023 Posted November 30, 2023 (edited) Actually, formation takeoffs are not normal for departures. In fact, in the US, formation takeoffs are prohibited when carrying any stores on the wings. Generally, you only see formation takeoffs in UPT or B Course when stores are not normally carried. Sometimes, the Navy would do formation takeoffs during their Airpower demos at airshows - especially in the Tomcat era at NAS Oceana, but in normal ops, takeoffs are usually sequenced. Other countries' regulations may be different, but in the US you definitely won't see formation departures during routine training ops... and especially not in combat ops. Edited November 30, 2023 by ggerman2862 3
algherghezghez Posted November 30, 2023 Author Posted November 30, 2023 Here in Italy I don't think I've ever seen a multiple ship formation do single take offs, always in pairs.
Tank50us Posted November 30, 2023 Posted November 30, 2023 5 hours ago, ggerman2862 said: Actually, formation takeoffs are not normal for departures. In fact, in the US, formation takeoffs are prohibited when carrying any stores on the wings. Generally, you only see formation takeoffs in UPT or B Course when stores are not normally carried. Sometimes, the Navy would do formation takeoffs during their Airpower demos at airshows - especially in the Tomcat era at NAS Oceana, but in normal ops, takeoffs are usually sequenced. Other countries' regulations may be different, but in the US you definitely won't see formation departures during routine training ops... and especially not in combat ops. It really depends on unit SOP, and the Tower of the field their taking off from. For example, if a bunch of F-16s stop at a Civilian Airfield for a required break, and are only able to get going again during a busy period for that airport, the Tower may clear them for a formation-like Take-off just to clear the 'traffic jam' sooner, if that units SOP allows it. It may also depend on the weather conditions at the time as well. A few years ago at MSP, a bunch of F-16s were taking off from there heading back to Duluth. The weather was cloudy skies, and the winds were certainly noticeable. They weren't allowed to do a formation take-off, and could only do singles, but the tower did clear them for departure as soon as they were lined up and the guy in front of them was off the runway... And I'll tell ya... that's not a take-off you just see... you feel it too.... Photos for proof
Dragon1-1 Posted November 30, 2023 Posted November 30, 2023 Lining up by flight certainly is the norm. Takeoffs are usually single ship, but don't need to be, especially in Europe. Even such simple thing as AI lining up in pairs or even fours would help. You can have it with a runway start, but not from ramp. 2
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