Which references to use for finger and close trail formations?

[N941WR]

Originally Posted by jclark

For normal formation, the plane does not need to be aerobatic.

The biggest "issue" I have found with flying the "9" in formation with the other 2-place RV's is the **WING**. The wing responds VERY differently in areas that matter a lot when you are close to another plane. And this is one of the things you get when trying to fly other "dissimilar" planes in formation.

I figured the "dissimilar" plane was the issue, thanks for clarifying for me.

So what you are saying is that a -3 would through you off as well because of its small size, it would also through off the "pace" of the formation?

Just busting on you James.

Originally Posted by jclark

...Now for the Team RV airshow routine, we have addition "constraints" that we put on the planes to insure that we can do it safely and do it looking good...

For what you are doing with the airshow, I understand the requirement to have similarly equiped airplanes. When I watch the videos, I'm impressed at Kahuna's restraint at not out running the lesser powered RV's.

Originally Posted by ao.frog

...
Anyway; we're having alot of fun for now and that's what's it's all about, right?

Formation clinic in Norway? Great idea! And of course it'd be great to have US-visitors attending! I'll look into it and see if it'll be possible.

Maybe the formation wantabee's can fund a trip for some of the US instructors and lend them a plane or two. I'm sure you could drum up enough people and planes to make the trip worth it. Would your authorities recognize a US formation card?

Originally Posted by ao.frog

Bill; THANKS alot for the nice offer to stay with you AND use your plane! That was REALLY nice of you! We'll see what the future holds...

No problem but you would have to put up with Torque the wonder dog.

Originally Posted by vlittle

...As for the comments about flying a -9 in formation with other RV's: It does seem like a lot more work because it's heavier in roll, but the biggest challenge is slowing down after the overhead break. Instead of slowing down to flap speed, I use a forward slip to bleed energy while keeping the airspeed up so that the following RV's (Swifts, Rockets) don't overrun me.

A constant speed prop would help here.

V

My problem with the -9, the few times I have flown with members of Team RV, is the landing. I have to slow down a lot more than the rest of the other RV's to get it on the ground and using partial flaps means I have to either slip it or come in shallower. A CS prop would help in this instance but that is not in the cards. (No need to comment on that statement LA!)

[ronschreck]

Originally Posted by ao.frog

Formation clinic in Norway? Great idea! And of course it'd be great to have US-visitiors attending! I'll look into it and see if it'll be possible.

If you like, I'll look into it on this side of the Atlantic. Earlier this year I flew a RV-6 to Tampa, Florida where it was crated up and shipped to Oslo for Oddvar Strand. Do you know him? If you can gather up enough pilots and host a clinic I'll bet I could find a few instructors who would be happy to make the trip to Norway. We could have the first international formation clinic! Seriously!

[penguin]

Alf,

If you would like to fly formation in England, we meet up at North Weald (EGSX, just North of London) once a month, usually get 10 or 12 aeroplanes. Twice a year "The Air Ministry" runs a 3 day formation school, the next one is at the end of April. So far it has been mainly Yaks (14 Yaks & 2 Cap 10s last Easter, 12 Yaks & 2 RVs 6 weeks ago), but we're trying for more RVs.

Pete

[ao.frog]

Hi again guys.

Thanks once again for all the inputs folks.

Yes, it sure would be alot of fun having a formation clinic over here!
Up until now, most of us flying together are ex-airforce fighterpilots but we now are flying with two pilots who have taken their licence the civilian way.
Both these pilots have been doing great and we see no problem in the future having civilian educated pilots in the formation. It's just a matter of enough training and personal attitude.

That way, it's much easier to recruit pilots to the formation-team. (yes, my long-term goal is to have a Norwegian 4-ship RV acro-team)

Ron; formation clinic here; thanks for the great offer! I think I'll send a link to this post to Chapter 573 EAA-Norway and leave the rest up to them. They are able to reach many more pilots than me and they have all the connections too.
Maybe next summer or 2012.... we'll see....

Pete; sounds like fun! I'll spread the word!