Flights
A flight is a type of (primarily) arieal or astral formation of vehicles ranging from 3-6 vehicles. These vehicles are usually fighter spacecraft, fighter aircraft, fighter/bomber aircraft or bomber aircraft although frigates and occasionally cruisers have been known to form Flights from time-to-time. Flights are the lowest form of aero/astronautical formation since duos tend to be bad practise in modern military tactics. Multiple flights usually make up a Squadron with the standard being 3-4 flights.
A flight is usually led by a Flight Lieutenant, generalized to the term 'Flight Lead' whose rank is equivilient to that of a Captain in the Onyx Verge Federation military or a Capitaine de Corvette in the New Terran Mandate. Those working under the Flight Lead can be of any rank but to be authorised to fight in an engagement, they must have a rank of Lieutenant or higher.
The craft and staff that comprise the flight are numbered to represent their position in the formation and the chain of command. The flight lead takes the 'number one' position, 'number two' takes the position on the flight lead's left wing, 'number three' is to the right of the lead, in a four-craft formation, 'number four' takes the position to the right of 'number three' whereas in other formations, the positions stagger in a left-right fashion. These designations have been abbreviated and get spoken alongside the flight's callsign. Thus, the flight lead of the 'Basset Flight' would be referred to as 'Basset-1'.
There are many different types of formations for wings and squadrons to fly in, but most of them can be simplified into something understandable by thinking of it from a wingman perspective. A wingman is a pilot who accompanies an 'element lead'. These element leads control the tactical decisions and directions of engagement of themselves and their wingman in accordance with the whims of the Flight Lead. Their wingman performs secondary operations, acting on the orders of and flying in formation with their element lead while they manage communications operations and keep an eye out for contacts. Often, though not exclusively, Element Leads in a flight will have a flight position number that is odd, where their wingman holds an even number.
A flight is usually led by a Flight Lieutenant, generalized to the term 'Flight Lead' whose rank is equivilient to that of a Captain in the Onyx Verge Federation military or a Capitaine de Corvette in the New Terran Mandate. Those working under the Flight Lead can be of any rank but to be authorised to fight in an engagement, they must have a rank of Lieutenant or higher.
The craft and staff that comprise the flight are numbered to represent their position in the formation and the chain of command. The flight lead takes the 'number one' position, 'number two' takes the position on the flight lead's left wing, 'number three' is to the right of the lead, in a four-craft formation, 'number four' takes the position to the right of 'number three' whereas in other formations, the positions stagger in a left-right fashion. These designations have been abbreviated and get spoken alongside the flight's callsign. Thus, the flight lead of the 'Basset Flight' would be referred to as 'Basset-1'.
There are many different types of formations for wings and squadrons to fly in, but most of them can be simplified into something understandable by thinking of it from a wingman perspective. A wingman is a pilot who accompanies an 'element lead'. These element leads control the tactical decisions and directions of engagement of themselves and their wingman in accordance with the whims of the Flight Lead. Their wingman performs secondary operations, acting on the orders of and flying in formation with their element lead while they manage communications operations and keep an eye out for contacts. Often, though not exclusively, Element Leads in a flight will have a flight position number that is odd, where their wingman holds an even number.
Type
Air Force
Ranks & Titles
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