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CHAPTER 3.

2
TACTICAL FORMATIOM FLIGHT
2. Tactical Formation Maneuvering
2.1. Control of the Flight.

The combat cruise and combat spread formations increase the flight leader’s flexibility in
controlling the flight. They also promote security by providing overlapping fields of view.
Normal cruise principles can be used for most turns in the combat cruise position. Break
turns are turns effected to face an enemy attacker and are easy to manage from the
basic combat cruise position if the concepts of flight lead and tactical lead are
understood. The flight leader is the designated NATOPS formation leader responsible for
organizing and controlling the flight from planning through debriefing. On the other hand, the
tactical lead is not determined by rank, experience, or ability. During attack, the aircrew of
the aircraft that is directly engaged normally becomes the tactical leader. At this point,
the tactical wingman is responsible for maintaining separation between aircraft and providing
mutual support .

2.2. Types of Maneuvers.


Aircrews use nine basic tactical flight formation maneuvers. These maneuvers include
tactical (tac) turns, center turns, in place turns, split turns, cross turns, break turns, the dig,
the pinch, and cover. These maneuvers are performed from either the combat cruise or
combat spread formation. They give the flight leader maximum command and control of the
flight while increasing flexibility and space for individual aircraft to maneuver. During
formation maneuvering there will be times when aircraft are in a level horizontal plane
converging laterally. When this occurs, the tactical wingman always has the ultimate
responsibility for maintaining adequate clearance from the tactical leader. He should do
this by varying his airspeed, altitude or angle of bank in order to pass behind, in front of or
over the lead aircraft.

Obviously, the tactical formation maneuvers described in this chapter can be utilized during
ACM engagements; however, their use should not be limited to just that arena. These
maneuvers are also very useful in simply directing a section of aircraft from point A to point
B.

Note: Unless an engagement forces the tactical lead to change from one aircraft to another,
the tactical lead will not typically change hands during any of these maneuvers. Rather, the
wingman should vary angle of bank or airspeed in order to resume an appropriate position
once the maneuver is completed (e.g. a split turn initiated while a section is in a combat cruise
formation will require that the wingman lessen his angle of bank so that he does not roll out of
the turn in front of his leader).

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2.3. Basic Maneuvers

2.3.1. Tac Turns.


Aircrews use two types of tac turns: the tac turn away from the wingman and the tac turn into
the wingman. These turns can be accomplished easily from the combat cruise or combat
spread formation. They are used to change the direction of a formation from 60 to 120
degrees. With the command, «call sign, tac left (or right )», a turn of 90 degrees is
understood. If a smaller or larger change is desired, the tactical leader may elect to specify the
new heading in the command. The tac turns enable aircrews to turn into an approaching
enemy while maintaining formation integrity to facilitate mutual fire support. They are also
used to avoid presenting a linear target to an approaching enemy aircraft.

2.3.1.1. The Tac Turn Away From the wingman in Combat Cruise.
In this turn, the lead must hold the original heading until after the command, tac left (or right),
is given. When the wingman receives the command, he immediately turns to the new
direction and rolls out. As the wingman approaches the tactical lead's 5 o'clock position for a
left turn or 7 o'clock position for a right turn, the lead turns to the new direction (see figure 3-
3) .

The Tac Turn Away From the wingman in Combat Cruise


Figure 3-3

2.3.1.2. The Tac Turn Into the Wingman in Combat Cruise.


When the command, «tac left (or right)», is given, the tactical leader immediately turns to the
new direction and, depending on the wingman's position, either passes behind or in front of
the wingman. The wingman maintains separation, crosses to the opposite side of the leader
and turns to the new direction (see figure 3-4 ) .

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Tac Turn Into the Wingman in Combat Cruise
Figure 3-4

2.3.1.3. The Tac Turn Away From the Wingman in Combat Spread.
This type of turn depends on the position of the aircraft in relation to the turn rather than the
lead's or wingman's position. The aircraft on the outside of the turn initiates the turn.
Once the command is given, the tactical leader maintains his heading. The tactical wingman,
upon receiving the command, immediate1y turns to the new direction and passes behind
the lead. As the wingman passes the lead's 5 o'clock position for a left turn or 7 o'clock
position for a right turn, the leader turns to the new direction (see figure 3-5).

Tac Turn Away From the Wingman in Combat Spread


Figure 3-5

2.3.1.4. The Tac Turn Into the Wingman in Combat Spread.


This type of turn also depends on the position of the aircraft in relation to the turn rather than
the lead's or wingman's position. Once the command is given, the tactical leader
immediately turns to the new direction and passes behind the tactical wingman. The
wingman holds his heading until the lead has passed the 5 o'clock position for a left turn or 7
o'clock position for a right turn. He then turns to the new direction and positions his aircraft in
combat spread abeam the lead (see figure 3-6).

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Note: All tac turns are easily understood if analyzed from the following perspective :

1. The tactical wingman will always change sides in the formation.

2. The aircraft on the outside of the turn will always turn first.

3. The tactical wingman is always responsib1e for clearance regardless of whether he


initiates the turn or not.

Tac Turn Into the Wingman in Combat Spread


Figure 3-6

2.3.2. Center Turns.


Center turns are turns of 120 to 240 degrees of heading change that can be performed from
either the combat cruise or combat spread formation. When aircrews receive the command,
"center", both aircraft turn toward each other while maintaining power. The turn is usually
maintained for 180 decrees until the aircraft roll out in the new direction. The center turn is
normally executed when excessive separation has developed between a friendly section and a
threat approaches from the rear hemisphere which dictates that aircraft separation be
decreased in order to provide mutual support (see figure 3-7).

Note: Aircrews must take care to ensure that adequate separation exists between aircraft prior
to commencing a center turn. In any case, the tactical wingman is always responsible for
clearance.

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Center Turns
Figure 3-7

2.3.3. In Place Turns.


In place turns can be accomplished from either the combat spread or combat cruise formation.
They can be used for small heading changes of 60 degrees or less, or for large course changes
of 120 to 240 degrees.
For small turns, the command includes the number of degrees of change desired, «in place,
left, 30 degrees». When used in this way, the in place turn replaces the check turn as a vehicle
for visually checking the rear hemisphere of a flight’s axis of advance.
For large turns, a chance of 180 degrees is understood on the command, «in place left (or
right)». If a smaller or larger change is desired, the leader may elect to specify the new roll
out heading in degrees, «in place left (or right) , roll out 145».
To initiate small turns, all aircrew simultaneously turn the appropriate number of degrees in
the direction specified in the command. At the same time, they maintain their position relative
to each other.
To initiate large turns, aircrews simultaneously turn in the specified direction. As the f1ight
continues its turn to the new direction, the wingman will find himself on the opposite side of
the lead (see figure 3-8).

In Place Turns
Figure 3-8

2.3.4. Split Turns.


Split turns can be performed from either the combat cruise or combat spread formation. They
involve making heading changes of 120 to 240 degrees. With the command, «split» , 180
degrees of change is understood.
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If a smaller or larger change is desired, the leader may elect to specify the new heading in the
command, «split, roll out 145». When aircrews receive the command, they turn away from
each other while maintaining power. The aircraft then continue to turn and roll out in the new
direction (see figure 3-9).

Split Turns
Figure 3-9

2.3.5. Cross Turns.


Cross turns can be performed from either the combat cruise or combat spread formation. They
involve making heading changes of 120 to 240 degrees. With the command, «cross», 180
degrees of change is understood. If a smaller or larger change is desired, the leader may elect
to specify the new heading in the command, «cross, roll out 145». It is always understood
that the tac leader will turn inside on a cross turn. If the tac leader desires to modify this
convention, the command would be, «cross lead outside», indicating that the tac leader will
assume the outside position in the turn. The aircrew that will assume the inside position
should turn first towards the other aircraft. Initial separation determines the angle of bank
needed to re-establish each aircraft on the new heading with the desired separation. The cross
turn should not be used in situations where an aggressor might deliver ordnance at the apex of
the turn since both helicopters are closely aligned at this point. If terrain dictates the use of a
cross turn during an engagement , the tactical wingman should climb or descend (i.e,
cover) in order to at least break the horizontal plane (see figure 3-10).

Cross Turns

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Figure 3-10

2.3.6. Break Turns.


Break turns are maximum aircraft performance maneuvers which orient the flight toward
an enemy aircraft that has penetrated within weapons engagement parameters or which orient
the flight away from hostile ground fire. Against fixed wing aircraft they are normally used
when the attack comes from near the abeam point (8 to 10 o'clock or 2 to 4 o'clock). For
example, the aircrew who initiates the maneuver gives the command, «flight ca1lsign,
bandit, two o'clock, level, break right». This tells the aircrew on the right side of the
formation to make an immediate turn to face the enemy head-on or with a small aspect angle.
If he is now engaged or has the best grasp of the existing tactical situation, he would assume
the role of the tac leader. The aircrew on the far side of the formation will also turn towards
the enemy, but he will continue to maneuver in order to break plane and phase, and to provide
mutual support, (see figure. 3-11).

Break Turns
Figure 3-11

2.3.7. Dig and Pinch.


The tac lead uses these maneuvers to adjust the separation of his flight while the flight moves
in a constant direction. Separate maneuvers, the dig increases lateral separation of the flight
while the pinch decreases it. Aircrews begin the dig or the pinch while flying a constant
heading in either the combat cruise or combat spread formation. When the tac leader
commands, «dig», aircraft simultaneously turn away from each other for 30 to 45 degrees of
heading change. When the desired lateral separation is attained, the leader may command,
«resume», and both aircraft return to the original heading. When the leader commands,
«pinch», the aircraft simultaneously turn toward each other for 30 to 45 degrees of heading
change. When the aircraft are the desired distance apart the leader commands «resume», and
both aircraft once again return to the original heading (see figure 3-12).

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Dig and Pinch
Figure 3-12

2.3.8. Cover.
The command, «cover», can be added to any of the other formation maneuvers to tell the tac
wingman to break the horizontal plane with the tac leader by either increasing or
decreasing his altitude. For example, the command, «cross turn and cover», if given in the
low level flight regime, would tell the tac wingman to take the outside of the turn and
increase altitude to break the horizontal plane with the tac leader. This command is
particularly useful in cross turns and break turns because it is often difficult to avoid creating
a linear target when employing these turns during an ACM, engagement (see figure 3-13).

Cover
Figure 3-13

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