B3102 FLIGHT WINGMAN 1.4 hours airborne + briefings

Wing Work / Close Trail Formation

Precise spacing in trail position behind lead

OBJECTIVE

Enable trainees to fly and maintain close trail formation as wingman in the T-38 Talon, practicing rejoins, position holds, basic turns, and deconfliction, to develop precise spacing skills integrating communications and visual signals per AFMAN 11-2T-38V3 standards.

CONTENT

Pre-Flight Briefing and Preparation

  • • Review of fingertip basics and ground lessons on trail formations; discuss sortie objectives, VMC requirements, and T-38 handling (thrust sensitivity for depth cues).
  • • Formation planning: Brief rejoin paths, safety tolerances (10-50 ft spacing), and contingencies like breakout for closure overruns.
  • • Wingman focus: Cone positioning, exhaust/helmet references, small inputs to avoid oscillations.

Airborne Procedures and Maneuvers

  • • Departure and rejoin: VFR takeoff from KSPS, wingman rejoins to close trail using visual/radio cues.
  • • Close trail maintenance: Position holds in straight flight, basic turns (≤30° bank), power adjustments for station-keeping.
  • • Comms and signals: Acknowledgments for lead directives, visual signals for minor position tweaks; intro to ops checks.

CLOSE TRAIL PARAMETERS

Spacing: 10-50 ft behind
Position: In cone
Reference: Exhaust/helmet
Max Bank: ≤30°

Post-Flight Debrief

  • • Performance evaluation: Assess spacing stability (10-50 ft), deconfliction, and comms via flight data.
  • • Trainee reflection: Discuss trail challenges and prep for extended trail.

SORTIE TASKS

IP required. Fly as wingman. VMC only. Fly on VATSIM IAW VATSIM regulations.

Pre-Sortie

  1. 1Brief with IP: close trail spacing (10–50 ft cone), rejoin path, thrust sensitivity, and deconfliction procedure
  2. 2File flight plan on VATSIM; obtain ATIS and contact Ground/Tower; depart as a flight with IP as lead

Sortie

  1. 3After departure, rejoin to close trail position on IP's call; establish 10–50 ft cone spacing
  2. 4Maintain position during straight-and-level flight without oscillation or closure
  3. 5Follow IP through basic turns ≤30° bank; use power adjustments to hold cone continuously
  4. 6Respond correctly to all visual signals and radio calls; execute any directed formation transitions
  5. 7Return to home field on IP's call; break and land as directed

Post-Sortie

  1. 8Debrief with IP: review spacing stability, deconfliction readiness, and comms
  2. 9Log the sortie in the vTAC flight log system

Approved Callsigns

BULL · ZOOM · LIGHT · VOID — dual formation sortie
BLACK · CHOSEN · STAFF — if command is present

COMPLETION STANDARDS

Trainees will demonstrate proficiency in close trail formation through successful sortie execution. Trainees must:

  • • Maintain spacing tolerances (10-50 ft cone, stable without oscillations)
  • • Demonstrate timely responses to visual/radio signals
  • • Execute no safety errors per AFMAN 11-2T-38V3 standards

Completion: Instructor confirmation of progression to extended trail

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