Flying Formation In The Clouds

[Gulfstreamlover]

I was sitting at an airport the other day and I noticed a couple A-10's take off in formation into the clouds. How do you guys fly formation in the clouds? Is visibility that good in clouds?

 

[TR4A]

Yes, if you stay close. In fingertip you are about 3 foot spacing on the wing tips and slightly aft of lead. I flew T-38's as an IP at UPT. Having the Position Lights on really helps. The aircraft were all painted white back then.

 

[talondriver]

I think you're refering to "close" although "fingertip" is commonly used to define it. It's not the position of choice for most. "Close" is good for IMC flying to get a formation through the weather. If jets are radar equipped, radar trail would be an option. I wouldn't want a "well hung" jet flying close to me if at all possible.
There are different types of formations used in the military.
The old definition of fingertip is a 4-ship formation (look at your hand with your fingers together then look at your fingertips...get it?)
Formation is used to maximize force employment and mutual support...or to maximize stress levels if you're a AETC IP .

Oh...the visibility in clouds over Mississippi is zero

 

[FAIP Freddy]

Man I miss those days!

Nothing like flying formation on a sunny spring day with a lot of "puffies" to do some cloud chasing in.

Yes it was nerve racking at times with students, but their desire to stay alive tended to keep the airplanes way to far apart. Much to the chagrin of their IP's:

 

[Vandal]

Flew my first formation approach in IMC on the wing last week and it was a real eye opener. Hehe all I could get out was a "Woah" when we went in the clouds and lead basically dissapeared except for a faint outline.

Oh and "Woah" was quickly followed with a "My controls..."from my IP

 

[spanky2]

Some clouds are thicker than others...but flying close / fingertip is a basic fighter task, learned in UPT. The worst position is to be #4, flying off of #3, who is flying off of #1. If #1 is rough then #3 is going to be rougher and #4 is going to have a hard time. It's all about anticipating turns, power changes, and making small corrections. Watch the Thunderbirds or Blue Angels...they are very close and look like they are glued together but they are making lots of very small corrections that the crowd can not see. Air refueling in the soup is similar...and tankers are very good at finding in the only clouds in the AR track.

Now...flying formation in the clouds at night...is another story.