Fifty RV Flyover for NASCAR Race

EppyGA

EppyGA

Touchdown! Greaser!
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Let's Fly
Hope you didn't miss the flyover during the national anthem before today's Phoenix NASCAR race. Fifty RV's in formation and they did an awesome job.
 
The ensuing overhead break must have taken 30 minutes to complete. :)
 
Missed it. If it was anything like OSH it must have been great.
 
Just saw it. Pretty cool stuff. Hope to see more of it. I think stuff like this is awesome to promote general aviation!


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You could tell which drivers and crew members fly, and which ones don't.
 
They are a dedicated, hard working bunch.

They didn't get much practice in due to weather, but pulled off a nice formation anyway.
 
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Apparently there are a lot of folks who don't know much about formation training and qualifications.

Before you go casting aspersions about these guys, learn a little about the training and practice they go through, or the qualifications required by FAST/RPA just to get a wingman card. These guys are all pro's, not some group of weekend warriors who think a flight suit makes them fighter jocks.

'Gimp
 
Yeah but did they zoom climb to get up there? :)

(Sorry Jay. It's part of PoA lore now. That fastball was just hanging out there and someone already got the overhead break one...) ;)
 
Groundpounder said:
Fifty RV's in formation over a large crowd doesn't give me the warm and fuzzies.
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AcroGimp said:
Apparently there are a lot of folks who don't know much about formation training and qualifications.

Before you go casting aspersions about these guys, learn a little about the training and practice they go through, or the qualifications required by FAST/RPA just to get a wingman card. These guys are all pro's, not some group of weekend warriors who think a flight suit makes them fighter jocks.

'Gimp
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Thanks Gimp. :yes:
 
I didn't say they were dangerous, but having 50 airplanes in formation raises the risk, no matter how well trained the pilots are. 50 F-16's flown by Thunderbird pilots are more likely to have an issue than 2.

From where I was sitting on the couch, the sight of 50 light aircraft bouncing around in fairly tight formation directly overhead 100,000 people didn't give me a warm reassuring feeling.
 
Groundpounder said:
I didn't say they were dangerous, but having 50 airplanes in formation raises the risk, no matter how well trained the pilots are. 50 F-16's flown by Thunderbird pilots are more likely to have an issue than 2.

From where I was sitting on the couch, the sight of 50 light aircraft bouncing around in fairly tight formation directly overhead 100,000 people didn't give me a warm reassuring feeling.
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Stay on the couch.
 
We have a bunch of guys who like to fly formation in the ANS. They did a couple of passes around the Cody rodeo complex when we were out there. The rodeo people called and wanted to know if we could do it every night we were there.
 
If I remember the clip right they are a precision team out of Kansas City.

It was very impressive!
Holy cow how about that National Anthem, Jerry McGuire is awesome!
 
It was a great start to a good race too. Most of those drivers are pilots and you could see which ones were by their reactions
 
AcroGimp said:
Apparently there are a lot of folks who don't know much about formation training and qualifications.

Before you go casting aspersions about these guys, learn a little about the training and practice they go through, or the qualifications required by FAST/RPA just to get a wingman card.
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Unless things have changed recently, the RV world does formation training/certification under FFI, not FAST (which focuses on warbirds). However, the FFI program is indeed rigorous. If you want to find out just how rigorous, contact FFI about a formation training clinic you can attend (even just for the ground training).

Formation Flight, Inc.
3509 Gattis School Rd​
Round Rock, TX 78664
These guys are all pro's, not some group of weekend warriors who think a flight suit makes them fighter jocks.
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Agreed.
 
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Geico266 said:
There is a waiting list to get into these clinics. :yes: Ask me how I know. :rolleyes2:
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The biggest limitation running these clinics is not having enough safety pilots to fly with the newbies, and that causes those waiting lists. However, I suspect that there would be no problem just attending the ground training to see what it's like.
 
The manual they use is incredibly detailed and specific. I have read it a couple of times, lots to remember. I will see if I can find the PDF and post it.
 
Geico266 said:
The manual they use is incredibly detailed and specific. I have read it a couple of times, lots to remember. I will see if I can find the PDF and post it.
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The basic manual used by both FAST and FFI is the T-34 Formation Flight Manual published and copyrighted by the T-34 Association. If you want a copy (print or .pdf), see http://www.t-34.com/store/merchandise_manuals.asp, and please do not violate their rights by transferring the file to others (it's only $10 for the .pdf version, anyway).
 
I've had the opportunity to sit through the FFI formation clinic - though I wasn't doing any flying. It is indeed high quality - high level of perfection flying. Those guys were dripping with sweat when they would get back from their 4-ship training flights.

I'll second the comment about this not being a group of weekend warrior jet jock wannabes - they take this stuff seriously and train accordingly.
 
CJones said:
I've had the opportunity to sit through the FFI formation clinic - though I wasn't doing any flying. It is indeed high quality - high level of perfection flying. Those guys were dripping with sweat when they would get back from their 4-ship training flights.
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...which typically last only 35-40 minutes. After that, your brain is a vegetable and your arms and legs are wet noodles.
 
It was great, but nothing compared to the one at the KC Chiefs game this year.
 
Speaking of formation flying, I don't know if you get The Aviation Consumer Ron but there's a picture of your plane in it. Good article on Grummans.
 
Velocity173 said:
Speaking of formation flying, I don't know if you get The Aviation Consumer Ron but there's a picture of your plane in it. Good article on Grummans.
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Must be something in the air... My plane made the front cover of this months Kitplanes....;)..

It is right next to the K in Kitplanes...:redface:

http://www.kitplanes.com/issues/
 
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