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| Formation Flying |
| Echelon- Echelon formations come in two flavors: echelon left and echelon right. The planes fly behind and to one side of each other, forming a diagonal or "stair-step" line. This type of formation can accommodate any number of aircraft, though it is not suggested for more than five. A two-plane echelon is the standard lead and wing man formation |
| V- the V or "Vees"are the standard formation for flights of bombers (and geese) The front two following planes keep position behind and to each side of the lead aircraft, thus forming the "V" Any further planes extend the legs of the V. When there is an even number of aircraft in a V formation, the flight leader decides which leg will be extended. The two plane V is essentially the same formation as the two plane echelon |
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| F4F wildcats in Echelon left (note the "Vee" formation in the background |