formation speed?

[john (scooby)]

whats the max sensible speed you boys can fly formation at clean?

[Flyco]

Depends on height. At sea level it will hold 240 plus comfortably with a load on - clean about 280-300 is tops, but not recommended.

At 20,000 ft, you can hold 210:,1 with a load.

For the climb use 200 kts, decreasing by 5 kts every 500 ft.

If you let me have a weapons load I will come up with more accurate values tomorrow.

You obviously have to fly no more than 10 kts above the top speed of the heaviest aircraft in the Flight.

[john (scooby)]

clean light and low level, 270 knots ok?

[Flyco]

Should be OK.

[Flyco]

Just done some trials. The speeds I quoted would be comfortable for an A-10C.

With around 3-4000lb fuel, 2 x Aim-9, TGP, EW Pod, and the rest of the pods empty, an A-10C_2, should be able to hold 300 kias , in formation, at up to 5000 ft agl fairly comfortably. Below 5k, with careful handling and a considerate Flt Lead, 330 kias should be OK. The 330 kts speed would be a problem if there were hills to cross or significant manoeuvring (< 30 degrees AOB).

Thus, you could plan for 300 kias, since the A-10C_2 is the normal model flown.

[john (scooby)]

Just done some trials. The speeds I quoted would be comfortable for an A-10C.

With around 3-4000lb fuel, 2 x Aim-9, TGP, EW Pod, and the rest of the pods empty, an A-10C_2, should be able to hold 300 kias , in formation, at up to 5000 ft agl fairly comfortably. Below 5k, with careful handling and a considerate Flt Lead, 330 kias should be OK. The 330 kts speed would be a problem if there were hills to cross or significant manoeuvring (< 30 degrees AOB).

Thus, you could plan for 300 kias, since the A-10C_2 is the normal model flown.

300 knots light fuel and no pylons then

[Flyco]

Sorry, should have said 'pylons empty', not 'pods empty'. 300kts would be OK with a moderate fuel load, provided height could be kept at 5,000 ft or less.