Formation flying

[MooneyBob]

I would really like to have some nice pictures of my plane in the middle of the flight. I was about to ask some of my pilot friends from our airport to fly next to each other and take those pictures.

What should be taken into the consideration by doing stunt like that?  Speed, distance, altitude, communication ?

[jrwilson]

The mooney Oshkosh caravan does formation training, so does the Bonanza group, so do RV groups and other types...  That might be the best option.  Find a group nearby doing formation training, they usually don't mind other aircraft types participating.  It is pretty inexpensive, you get an experienced safety pilot, safety briefings, and some actual training you can use.  Plus, someone can sit in back of the planes and take all the pictures you want...

[jrwilson]

Try these websites:

 

www.b2osh.org

 

www.mooneycaravan.com

 

both have manuals for formation, and good contacts for upcoming events.

[MooneyBob]

Thanks.

[carusoam]

There is also a guy... in the NYC area that performs this as a paid service.

You can contact him directly.

His name is Philip.

He is also the purveyor of remote engine heater switches for winter pre-flight activities and air coolers for summer pre-flight activities.

Best regards,

-a-

[orionflt]

contact me off line, I have a friend who loves to take pictures in flight and I have flown a number of flights for her taking pics of other planes. also if your not comfortable doing the flying I have a friend who does formation flying and has been both the photographed plane and the plane photos were taken from. 

 

Brian

[MooneyBob]

contact me off line, I have a friend who loves to take pictures in flight and I have flown a number of flights for her taking pics of other planes. also if your not comfortable doing the flying I have a friend who does formation flying and has been both the photographed plane and the plane photos were taken from. 

 

Brian

Ok. Thanks

[M016576]

If you find yourself in southern oregon, I'll do the formation flying for your photographer. I'll brief you on what to do- nothing cosmic required. Send me a PM to arrange. No charge.

[MooneyBob]

If you find yourself in southern oregon, I'll do the formation flying for your photographer. I'll brief you on what to do- nothing cosmic required. Send me a PM to arrange. No charge.

Thanks.

[Seth]

George Perry was going to put together a formation training clinic years ago and may still do so after he returns from his deployment.  That would have occurred in North Carolina.  Maybe it's something NJ / Mid-Atlantic Mooney Group can put on?  Get a few instructors and have a very safe environment with a few flights one afternoon to teach the basics with a briefing beforehand and debrief afterward. 

 

-Seth

[Seth]

Also, the March Issue of Mooney Flyer has formation flying information in it.

 

I looked up the Bonanza training groups and here is a localish group already with a planned get together. 

 

 

 

B2OSH NEBG Formation Clinic  

Location:

Martinsburg, West Virginia airport located in Martinsburg, West Virginia  

When:

6/7/2014 - 6/8/2014  

Host:

Thomas Toth Sr. & Woodie Diamond

 

 

 

There's also one in Barnes if that's closer to you.

 

Take care,

 

-Seth

[wiguy]

 You really don't have to do any formation flying yourself. You would just fly along with gentile maneuvering & the photo ship would be flying formation off you. So you mainly just need to have the other pilot versed in formation.

 

It's the same way when a plane gets intercepted by a military jet. The intercepted plane isn't the one doing the 'formation flying'.

 

  Yes, it's best to have things thought out. There is room for error if to little planning is involved.

[orionflt]

Bob,

PM me with your number. This was a great weekend to go flying and we had everyone around to be able to do a photo shoot.

This morning I was acting PIC in a friends Bonanza (he is working on getting his medical back), my friend who I said could do the flying formed up on using is Comanche so I took a couple of photos with my iPhone.

Brian

[phecksel]

I had an opportunity to ride along with two twin beech pilots who both taught formation flying.  I was riding in the lead plane, it was the most amazing experience watching these two planes in absolute perfect harmony with each other.  Literally 18" apart through climbs, turns descents and it never changed.  A string could have been tied between the planes and it would have become slack or broke.