B3101 FLIGHT WINGMAN 1.4 hours airborne + briefings

Fingertip Formation Basics

First formation flight - join-ups and close formation flying

OBJECTIVE

Enable trainees to establish and maintain fingertip formation position as wingman in the T-38 Talon, practicing join-ups, straight-and-level flight, gentle turns, and visual signals, to build foundational formation skills with emphasis on deconfliction and sight maintenance per AFMAN 11-2T-38V3 standards.

CONTENT

Pre-Flight Briefing and Preparation

• Review of ground lessons on comms, procedures, and fingertip specifics; discuss sortie objectives, VMC weather minima, and T-38 performance (350 KIAS join-up speed).
• Formation planning: Brief join-up geometry, safety rules (500 ft min separation), and emergency protocols (e.g., breakout turns).
• Wingman focus: Sight pictures for stack/bearing, small correction techniques, visual signal responses.

JOIN-UP PARAMETERS

Max Speed: 350 KIAS

Cut-off Angle: 30°

Min Separation: 500 ft

Weather: VMC Required

Airborne Procedures and Maneuvers

• Departure and join-up: VFR takeoff from KSPS, wingman executes join-up using 30° cut-off to fingertip position.
• Fingertip maintenance: Straight-and-level flight, gentle turns (≤30° bank), position holds with power/thrust adjustments.
• Comms and signals: Radio acknowledgments, visual signals for minor corrections; ops checks if directed.

FINGERTIP SIGHT PICTURE

Wingtip Spacing: 3-10 ft

Stack: Level with lead

Bearing Line: 45° aft of wingtip

Reference: Lead's canopy/helmet

Post-Flight Debrief

• Performance evaluation: Analyze spacing tolerances (3-10 ft wingtip), stability, and comms using flight data.
• Trainee reflection: Identify position challenges and improvements for trail formations.

COMPLETION STANDARDS

Trainees will demonstrate proficiency in fingertip basics through successful sortie execution. Trainees must:

• Maintain position tolerances (±50 ft vertical, stable sight picture)
• Demonstrate timely visual/radio responses to lead
• Execute no deconfliction errors per AFMAN 11-2T-38V3 standards

Completion: Instructor confirmation of progression to trail formations