Formation flying

Joining us today is a man who has spent a lifetime mastering every corner of the sky.

From commanding heavy metal as a veteran captain at South African Airways, to leading the legendary Raptors Aerobatic Team in high-stakes precision formation flying.

His name is synonymous with the gold standard of South African aviation.

He's a display pilot, a mentor, a man who's calm under pressure, made headlines globally when he successfully walked away from a critical emergency landing that would've tested the nerves of even the most seasoned aviator.

And so I had, I had to really work hard to get it back onto l- uh, even keel.

And I j- just banked on a little bit left and right, and that, that showed it to you.

But in the formation flying we do, um...

I don't know why this is so small.

Flying in a conventional trainer is already a discipline that requires significant stick and rudder precision, communication, and situational awareness.

Formation flying in a pit special is all of that.

Multiplied by the aircraft's responsiveness, the roll rate that makes the pit so competitive in solo aerobatics becomes a liability in formation if you're not precise.

The gap between correct throttle and correct spacing and one small overcorrection is a gap that closes very quickly.