Formation Flying Clinic - SUNDAY @ DURANGO

The 9 airplane formation flight plan:

The runway at Pagosa Springs airport was wide enough for a 2 ship element takeoff, so 4 pairs took off, 15 seconds apart.  They flew a loose formation to Durango... about 20 minutes away.

In the 9th aircraft, a very speedy Glasair, was me!  We were "the tail".
Giving the others a 1 minute head-start, we took of and caught up.  Staying about a half mile left of the formation we maneuvered so I could take photos and we could critique the formation.   ;-)

In summary:
I do fine with G-force, but don't have the arm strength to lift the camera to my eye or the window during such intense maneuvers!  I loved the thrill of the fast and maneuverable Glasair.  We got a fabulous view of the flight, often able to see all 8, but the day was hazy - no thanks to that wildfire which was still burning.

The pictures are never quite as good with haze, distance and speed working against me... but you get the idea, right?

The flight to Durango ended with formation taxi to the ramp...

We debriefed the flight on the ground, and in short order, were lined up on the wide Durango Airport runway (KDRO) for the much anticipated, 3-ship element take-off.  I took up co-pilot position in the Lead aircraft.  A Beech 36.


Instead of all returning to Pagosa Springs, individual pilots were cleared to leave the formation one at a time.  As they peeled away, we said silent goodbyes to our new friends, wishing them a safe and pleasant homeward bound flight.

Once back at Pagosa Springs, it was time for me to help load up the N303B and for Mark and I to make haste to Longmont.  It was already hot and we knew a turbulent flight across the mountains lay ahead...
We were not wrong!

Yep... It was an exhausted PIC that landed at Longmont just 1.8 hours later.  I was done!

Formation Flying Clinic - SATURDAY FLIGHT 3

The last flight of the day. 

Already the sun was beating down and the thermals working themselves up.

I flew right seat in N303B in order to take Mooney pics.  :-)

Every pilot here deserved photos of this fab weekend... but I'm just one girl with a camera and I was starting to hear my back complain.  Two days of twisting and turning for the perfect angle and best shot, often with turbulence, was taking its toll.

 The day had started so early and I was tired!  Thank goodness another one our delicious Pagosa Formation Flying Clinic lunches was pretty much the only thing left on this afternoons agenda.

(I was not the only one who perked up at the sound of the word "nap".)

The group debriefed the mornings flights, each sharing what they had learned.  We discussed the plan for dinner and tomorrows plan for a 9 ship formation flight to Durango.  Then we convened for that much deserved afternoon rest.

Yes... as the sun set later that evening, I watched the sky change color and the stars appear, once again from the Hot Springs!

Formation Flying Clinic - SATURDAY FLIGHT 2

By Dallice Tylee

Upon entering the FBO conference room after Flight #1, I was met by David and Bret, who had just flown together.  David asked if I would consider taking pics of the aircraft he was flying and I told him if his wingman (Bret) would take me up, I would be honored.

About 10 minutes later, I was right seat in Bret's Mooney!

Bret and David had done some flying together already this weekend and they were very comfortable, very close.  We flew the briefed maneuvers then they coordinated flight to best angle the light and get David into a good position for photos.

Can you believe I actually had to ask David to fly further out from Bret?  The problem with the aircraft being so close, is that I was having trouble capturing him, without also including the wing or elevator of the Mooney.

I am still amazed at the level of skill all the pilots at this Formation Clinic have shown.  The rate they developed formation skills and comfort over the course of just a few days, is enviable.  Never at any time did I feel that Bret or David broke concentration from the task at hand or endangered anyone... And I was pleased at the pictures I was able to take.

Actually I have a very cool set of pics from a high speed continuous shoot that occurred as Bret dropped from one side of David (now the lead) and popped up the other side.  I'm no expert, but believe the maneuver was completed near textbook perfect.

We landed as a two ship element and taxied back.

There was time for one more flight today before the heat and wind made it impossible.  I promised Bret that the next flight, I would photography the Mooney.

Formation Flying Clinic SATURDAY FLIGHT 1

Oh my!  Day 2 of getting up early!

We arrived at the Pagosa Springs Airport at 5:30am.  While I sat in the warm car, looking like I had dragged  my sleep deprived self out of bed too early, Mark pre-flighted 303B for the first of three flights today.

As it turned out, our briefing time had been moved out to 7am and because of a "message mix up" at the hotel, we were an hour early.  Yay, us!  There was now time to nip into town and find coffee and breakfast.

At 7am, we met with Tom.  He was flying his Comanche and was paired with the Bonanza for formation practice.  Tom graciously allowed me to fly with him, affording me the opportunity to take photos of Mark, flying N303B.

Bonanza & Comanche element takeoff

It was a beautiful, calm flight.  The temperature was very pleasant indeed and already I had a better idea of how formation flying should look.  The airplanes were a good match and the still air allowed for closer flying.

Underneath us, Pagosa Springs was catching the morning light and the colors were intense.

We headed toward the designated practice area and Tom gave the command to change to our discreet frequency, from the Pagosa Springs unicom.

Mark flew as #2 in the formation, putting him just behind our right wing.

This is the look of concentration!

Off the Comanche's wing, the valley is filled with low lying smoke from a wildfire just north of Pagosa Springs.  Incidentally, this airplane has been in Tom's family since 1963!  I love that!

Yes, he is close.  It has taken me two flights yesterday and one today, to become ok with this!

The rapidly rising sun glints off Mark's window.

Through the left rear window, Mark emerges after passing under us... From our right side, he dropped back a little and moved down, over and up on the other side.

Our practice area was near Lake Navajo.

Landing gear down and inbound for a two ship element landing.  A two mile final to runway 19, then taxiing back for another element takeoff.

Then it was time to debrief the flight and discuss bits and pieces to practice during flight #2... 

Formation Flying Clinic FRIDAY

This formation flying clinic had been on my calendar for months... but as usual in the busy season, I felt like real estate work had me by the collar and was threatening to not let me leave town.

There is nothing quite like 3 different home inspections (complete with issues) to resolve by midnight on Friday, when you want to leave town Friday morning and fly all day!  Lucky for me, all of it was mostly under control, my clients are super cool and we have this magic internet thing!  :-)

The formation flying clinic is a prerequisite to registering for Bonanzas to Oshkosh 2012.  I am going to co-pilot N303B for this event in July, so I figured it would be a good idea for me to get comfortable with other aircraft flying in close proximity.

Friday morning at the crack of dawn (or so it seemed), Mark and I packed Bonanza N303B with enough luggage to imply a longer-than-the-weekend stay and took off.

I was PIC - but Mark had been the one to do all the planning and pre-flighting, while I worked.  Thanks Mark!  The flight over was 1.8 hours of smooth, beautiful air at 12,500 feet +/- 60 feet :-)  It was easy flying and I loved the newness of flying in the mountains.

Along the way I was getting "mountain flying" lessons:

• Approaching a peak/saddle at a 45 degree angle to allow for easily turning around, before or after clearing it.
• Flying down one side of a valley, closer to terrain than you would think, to allow room to turn less sharply, as needed.
• How to tell if I was going to clear a peak, but monitoring a bug spot on the windscreen.

Landing in Pagosa Springs (KPSO), we were met by the organizer, Jim Lane, who ushered us into the conference room where a briefing was already underway.  In fact, within 20 minutes, Mark was part of a "walk through" which outlined the plan for his first 2012 formation clinic flight.  

And 15 minutes later we were flying.  It was an effort for everyone to get a flight in, before the afternoon heated up and brought with it, turbulence.  I think we were too late. 

The combination of turbulence, temperature and 4 aircraft that were just too different in performance, pretty much terminated this first effort, early. The Lancair was overheating as it slowed to keep formation, while the Bonanza struggled to keep up at 9,500 feet.

During a quick debrief and it was agreed that flying later might work... When the air was cooler and calmer. In the meantime, Weebs spent an hour going over safety and other issues that might result in the need for Plan B. (I took good notes and will write up a separate post about this.)

6:30pm: Bonanza N303B flew with other Bonanzas.

The day ended with a generous spread of absolutely delicious home cooked food.  A hangar party!

The company and conversation was wonderful and I was really enjoying getting to know these men and their wives.  Good people.  Interesting people.  Superb pilots with stories and lessons that I was grateful to walk away with.

Next stop: Pagosa Hot Springs.  Heck, yes!  Well deserved.  

We were exhausted and nothing beats finishing the day bopping from one pool to another, finding the perfect temperature for sitting, soaking and chatting about the day.

And I almost forgot... At 10:30pm I got my first introduction to Sonic!  From the oversized front seat of our rented Dodge Ram 1500, I slurped back a chocolate malt!  It was a warm night.



Tomorrows plan involved a super early morning and lots of flying...