Formation Flight Training

[maajr57]

Can DCS add Formation Flight Training for each aircraft. The scenario would be simply to follow an AI leader aircraft in formation flight. Takeoff in formation to maneuvers in formation with an AI leader giving commands or instructions to landing together in formation. It would be a good exercise for those people just learning to fly and control the aircraft and for squadron training. Hope DCS will consider it.

[The_GhostRider]

The AI does some pretty unorthodox things and has some limitations that would make it very frustrating, formation flying is probably better done online with a real human.

[Tom Kazansky]

Well I like the idea mentioned in OP.

While waiting for ED to grant your wish, isn't it possible to do a two ship flight as the leading aircraft, save the track and while replaying it, jump in the wingman's plane and follow your own manoeuvres? This way you could plan and execute your own level of difficulty.

(Never have tried that myself yet.)

[draconus]

On 5/17/2025 at 9:12 PM, Tom Kazansky said:

While waiting for ED to grant your wish, isn't it possible to do a two ship flight as the leading aircraft, save the track and while replaying it, jump in the wingman's plane and follow your own manoeuvres? This way you could plan and execute your own level of difficulty.

No need to complicate things. Just add a friendly aircraft and plan its route. Then add player aircraft nearby, then try to join and keep formation. While the AI does unrealistic moves it's still a valid way to practice formation flying. Start with heavier aircraft flying straight and level, then add some maneuvers then go with maneuvering fighters.

You can do this in almost any mission involving friendly flights, so no need to create one either.

[sirrah]

33 minutes ago, draconus said:

No need to complicate things. Just add a friendly aircraft and plan its route. Then add player aircraft nearby, then try to join and keep formation. While the AI does unrealistic moves it's still a valid way to practice formation flying. Start with heavier aircraft flying straight and level, then add some maneuvers then go with maneuvering fighters.

You can do this in almost any mission involving friendly flights, so no need to create one either.

Well, doing (especially practicing) formation flying with AI is currently only realistically possible with straight flying AI (or giving them almost straight through waypoints).

The OP is asking to practice formation landings, which (let's be honest) is just not possible with current erratic AI behavior.

[maajr57]

So much for that idea. Thanks for the feedback!

[Draken35]

You can use aerobatic tasks in the AI waypoints to control a little bit more their speeds and bank angles  and to add interesting maneuvers, but forget about formation landings or take off with the current AI.

[Micr0]

This is where being able to play a track back as traffic while you fly formation on it would be useful.  FS-Recorder type functionality 

[Mike_Romeo]

On 5/17/2025 at 8:00 PM, maajr57 said:

Can DCS add Formation Flight Training for each aircraft. The scenario would be simply to follow an AI leader aircraft in formation flight. Takeoff in formation to maneuvers in formation with an AI leader giving commands or instructions to landing together in formation. It would be a good exercise for those people just learning to fly and control the aircraft and for squadron training. Hope DCS will consider it.

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3327920/
 

 

No need to ask for something that was already made  by the community. Higly recommend it especially since the mission creator did something that doesnt make the AI as snappy as usual. Very good training mission.

[Tom Kazansky]

6 hours ago, Mike_Romeo said:

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3327920/
 

 

No need to ask for something that was already made  by the community. Higly recommend it especially since the mission creator did something that doesnt make the AI as snappy as usual. Very good training mission.

[Micr0]

Thanks for the link, Tom. While the mission is "good", it's not realistic in terms of formation flying. No Flight Lead is going to initiate turns that aggressively. Flight leads will smooooooothly start turns, so as to allow the wingmen to follow. But, the mission is pretty good with what we have to work with.

[Tom Kazansky]

13 hours ago, Micr0 said:

Thanks for the link, Tom.

I doubt Mike's real name is Tom, so just to clarify if you'd confused me we him, @Mike_Romeo provided the link