Flight leadership

[Paul]

Flight leadership
A flight is made of four aircraft in two elements of two aircraft. Each element supports the other and each member of an element supports the other element member.

First element
1 – Flight Lead
2 – Wingman
Second element
3 – Element Lead
4 – Wingman

Each member of the flight has tasks to perform before, during and after combat. The flight structure allows for increased situational awareness, is harder to surprise and allows for advanced tactics to be used. When the members of a flight perform their allotted tasks the strength of the flight is greater than four single aircraft.

Flight Lead
The Flight Lead is the co-ordinator of the flight. He decides tactics that the flight will use and is responsible for communications with other flights and for the successful completion of his mission.

Pre-mission
The flight leader is responsible for working out the role their flight will perform in the engagement and deciding what loadout their flight will take. He will plan the formations the flight will use and the general offensive and defensive tactics to be used based on the capabilities if the aircraft they are flying compared to those the enemy is likely to be using.

During transit
The flight leader is responsible for navigation and ensuring the flight is in good formation by coordinating changes of heading. He will monitor communications to help maintain battlefield awareness and contribute to it with positional updates of his own flight. He should look for easily recognisable terrain features that can be used to anchor the flight’s position should a furball develop and if contact is made with the enemy the nearest should be declared as the flight’s anchor/rally point.

During combat
Initially the location, posture and number of any bogeys encountered are broadcast to all flights for battlefield awareness. Evaluating the positioning of the bogeys the flight leader will decide immediate action -whether to fight or flee and the immediate tactics. During the flight he will attempt to coordinate and control the fight by using his flight members to execute attacks or defensive actions.

Post combat
After combat the flight leader rallies the flight and reorganises them into tactical formation before continuing with the mission.

RTB
Upon return to base he will ensure the flight lands in a coordinated fashion.

Element leadership
Much of the Element leader’s tasks mirror those of the flight lead and an element lead must be prepared to take over the flight if the lead is shot down.

Pre-mission
It is important for the element leader to have a grasp of the plans and the reasoning behind them prior to mission launch. He must ensure that his own aircraft has the correct loadout.

During transit
The element leader will act as secondary navigator and will monitor the course of the flight, while taking note of terrain features that can be used to anchor the flight’s position if a furball develops. He should keep an eye on the positioning of his wingman and request positional adjustments as necessary.

During combat
The element leader coordinates the supporting role of the second element as requested by the flight lead. It is his job to decide when to make spoiling attacks to help protect the lead element and to also keep a lookout for additional bandits joining the fray. It is imperative that he keeps the Flight Lead informed of any situational changes as they develop.

Post combat
After combat the element lead repositions his element as per Flight Lead’s instructions.

RTB
The element lead will ensure that his element is in the correct position during the approach to their home airfield and in the landing pattern.

Wingman responsibilities
The wingman’s job is one of little authority but much responsibility. They are the eyes of the flight during transit and directly support their lead during combat. A good wingman will keep their lead safe; a bad wingman will get their lead shot down.

Pre-mission
It is important for the wingman to have a grasp of the plans and the reasoning behind them prior to mission launch. He must ensure that his own aircraft has the correct loadout.

During transit
The wingman must stay with his lead and position himself on the outside of the formation so he can look across formation to provide visual coverage for all other members of the flight.

During combat
It is important for a wingman to stick with their lead during combat to protect their six and to provide a secondary attacker when necessary. Sometimes the lead will task the wingman as primary attacker and the lead will support.

Post combat
Immediately after an engagement they will scan local airspace visually and move into position with their lead.

RTB
The wingman will maintain visual scanning all the way to final approach.