B3105 FLIGHT WINGMAN 1.0 hours airborne + briefings

Fighting Wing & Echelon Turns

Tactical formation positioning and maneuvering

OBJECTIVE

Enable trainees to fly fighting wing and perform echelon turns as wingman in the T-38 Talon, practicing positioning, cross-unders, power/bank adjustments, and deconfliction, to build tactical flexibility in formation while integrating communications and visual signals per AFMAN 11-2T-38V3 standards.

CONTENT

Pre-Flight Briefing and Preparation

  • • Review of route formation and ground lessons on fighting wing/echelon; discuss sortie objectives, VMC minima, and T-38 handling in tactical positions (cone maintenance).
  • • Formation planning: Brief fighting wing cone (30-45° aft, 500-1,500 ft lateral), echelon stacking, and tolerances for turns/cross-unders.
  • • Wingman focus: Aspect cues, thrust corrections, visual lookout.

Airborne Procedures and Maneuvers

  • • Departure and rejoin: VFR takeoff from KSPS, wingman rejoins to fighting wing.
  • • Fighting wing maintenance: Holds in straight flight, tactical turns (≤45° bank), cross-unders for position swaps.
  • • Echelon turns: Stack down in turns, adjust power/bank to hold position; practice on lead's signal.
  • • Comms and signals: Acknowledgments for directives, visual signals for adjustments.

FIGHTING WING CONE

Bearing: 30-45° aft
Lateral: 500-1,500 ft
Max Bank: ≤45°
Purpose: Tactical flexibility

ECHELON TURN TECHNIQUE

Inside Turn: Stack down, reduce power, increase bank

Outside Turn: Stack up, add power, reduce bank

Cross-under: Smooth transition under lead on signal

Post-Flight Debrief

  • • Performance evaluation: Review position stability, turn execution, and comms via data.
  • • Trainee reflection: Discuss tactical challenges and G-X prep.

SORTIE TASKS

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

Pre-Sortie

  1. 1Brief with IP: fighting wing cone (30–45° aft, 500–1,500 ft lateral), cross-under technique, and echelon turn geometry (inside/outside)
  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 fighting wing position on IP's call; establish 30–45° aft, 500–1,500 ft lateral
  2. 4Maintain cone position during tactical turns ≤45° bank without drifting out of parameters
  3. 5Execute cross-under to the opposite side on IP's directive; re-establish position without closure
  4. 6Perform echelon turns both inside and outside as directed; use correct bank technique for each
  5. 7Return to home field on IP's call; break and land as directed

Post-Sortie

  1. 8Debrief with IP: review cone stability, cross-under execution, and echelon turn technique
  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 fighting wing and echelon turns through successful sortie execution. Trainees must:

  • • Maintain cone tolerances (30-45° aft, stable without drifts)
  • • Execute accurate cross-unders on lead's signal
  • • Demonstrate no deconfliction errors per AFMAN 11-2T-38V3 standards

Completion: Instructor confirmation of progression to G-X and breakouts

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