June 12 - 6 Ship Formation Flight

My parents were visiting so I took my Dad flying Saturday morning.  What better way to show him what the RV could do than some formation flying with Dragon Flight? 
 
We made the quick transit to Carroll County where Pablo landed in the RV-3 just before us and four other RVs came in just after us.  We would have si x ships today.
 
We decided to make two hops.  We would divide into two separate flights of three for the first hop.  The second hop would be all six airplanes.
 
I was with Pablo and Jolly on the first hop.  My Dad took these pictures. 
 
We went through all the usual maneuvers:  lazy-8s, echelon turns, horizontal and vertical breaks, re-joins and follow-the-leader. 
 
I know, I'm always too far back; i.e., "sucked". 
 
Now we're looking pretty good in this echelon turn.
 
Perfect position!
 
Getting the hang of it.
 
Cuban's passenger took the next two shots from their 3-ship flight.  That's Aussie and Tulip in echelon.
 
 Three-ship V in a diving turn to the left.
 
Both flights landed and debriefed.  Then we had the six-ship brief. 
 
From nearest to farthest:  Pablo, Jolly, Claw, Cuban, Tulip and Aussie.
 
We decided to number ourselves for the six ship flight the way we were lined up.  Pablo was lead, Jolly #2, myself #3, and so on.
 

And here we are in a six ship wedge formation.   Flying in a six-ship formation was fun although I was a little nervous at first. 

The best thing was when we were in a loose-trail follow the leader.  Pablo went into a hard right turn and everyone followed in sequence.  Soon Pablo was on the tail of #6 Aussie.  We were in a Luffberry Circle!  It was neat to be in a steep turn pulling hard and seeing 2 or 3 RVs through the bubble canopy. 

 
The six-ship flight taxiing back from the flight. 
 
 
My Dad and I walked down the street to a little restaurant named Tina's and had breakfast, then flew back to Essex Skypark.  A nice way to start out the day. 
 
 
Cuban, Aussie, Jolly and Tulip did a third flight and Cuban's rider took these pictures. 
 
 Nice formation turn. 
 
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