B3104 FLIGHT WINGMAN 1.0 hours airborne + briefings

Wing Work / CT / Route Formation

Enroute formation flying with transitions

OBJECTIVE

Enable trainees to maintain route formation as wingman in the T-38 Talon, practicing enroute positioning, transitions between formations, and ops checks, to build proficiency in tactical enroute flying while integrating communications and visual signals per AFMAN 11-2T-38V3 standards.

CONTENT

Pre-Flight Briefing and Preparation

  • • Review of trail formations and ground lessons on route specifics; discuss sortie objectives, VMC/IMC transitions, and T-38 enroute performance (0.8 Mach cruise).
  • • Formation planning: Brief route positioning (500 ft separation), tolerances, and integration with IFR filing if needed for enroute segments.
  • • Wingman focus: Aspect monitoring, power adjustments, visual lookout for deconfliction.

Airborne Procedures and Maneuvers

  • • Departure and rejoin: VFR takeoff from KSPS, wingman rejoins to route formation.
  • • Route maintenance: Enroute holds, transitions, turns; practice ops checks with radio responses.
  • • Comms and signals: Acknowledgments for lead directives, visual signals for position.

ROUTE FORMATION PARAMETERS

Separation: 500 ft
Cruise: 0.8 Mach
Use: Enroute/Transitions
Flexibility: Moderate

Post-Flight Debrief

  • • Performance evaluation: Assess spacing stability (500 ft), ops check execution, and comms via data.
  • • Trainee reflection: Discuss route challenges and fighting wing prep.

SORTIE TASKS

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

Pre-Sortie

  1. 1Brief with IP: route formation offset (500 ft lateral separation), transition calls between positions, and ops check format
  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 route formation on IP's call; establish 500 ft lateral/vertical separation
  2. 4Maintain 500 ft separation during enroute flight without drifting or closing
  3. 5Execute formation transitions (route ↔ fingertip) on IP's directive calls
  4. 6Respond promptly to all ops checks; acknowledge with correct brevity codes
  5. 7Return to home field on IP's call; break and land as directed

Post-Sortie

  1. 8Debrief with IP: review spacing, transition execution, and ops check responses
  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 route formation through successful sortie execution. Trainees must:

  • • Maintain spacing tolerances (500 ft lateral/vertical, stable without drifts)
  • • Execute timely ops check responses
  • • Demonstrate no deconfliction errors per AFMAN 11-2T-38V3 standards

Completion: Instructor confirmation of progression to fighting wing

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