In Formation

An In-Formation procedure is used to model coordinated flight between the aircraft and its formation vehicle. This procedure is only available to the End of Previous Procedure site, and only if the previous procedure was a Formation procedure.

Flight Mode

Parameter Description
Flight Mode

Select the type of motion that the aircraft is engaged in at the reference state from the drop-down menu. The options are:

  • Forward Flight - Climb
  • Forward Flight - Cruise
  • Forward Flight - Descend
  • Hover
  • Landing
  • Takeoff

The flight mode governs aerodynamics and propulsion calculations during the procedure and the attitude of the aircraft during transitions.

Formation Point

The position - relative to the site vehicle - that the aircraft will be locked onto while in formation; click to open the Select Position Point window to choose a different reference point. Click Reset to reset the point definition to the default. The aircraft will hold formation at this point without condition.

Times

Field Description
Transition Time The amount of time that the aircraft will spend transitioning from the Altitude Offset to a zero altitude offset.
Hold Time The amount of time that the aircraft will pause at a zero altitude offset.
Display Step Time The time interval at which ephemeris is generated for display purposes.

While In Formation

Field Description
Trajectory Blending

Aviator interpolates the velocity of the aircraft and the starting and stopping positions of the procedure using the specified coordinate system and function. Select the coordinate system and interpolating function from the following options:

  • Body Frame - Quadratic
  • Body Frame - Cubic
  • Local Horizontal - Quadratic
  • Local Horizontal - Cubic
  • ECF Frame - Quadratic
  • ECF Frame - Cubic

The Body Frame coordinate system is best suited for IFR formation flight, while Local Horizontal is best suited for VFR formation flight. The ECF Frame coordinate system can be used for formation flight relative to missiles.
Fuel Flow Source

The fuel flow of the aircraft while in formation; select from the following options:

  • Takeoff Perf Model - uses the Takeoff performance model's setting.
  • Cruise Perf Model - uses the Cruise performance model's setting.
  • Landing Perf Model - uses the Landing performance model's setting.
  • VTOL Perf Model - uses the VTOL performance model's setting.
  • Aero/Propulsion - uses the fuel flow calculated by the aerodynamics and propulsion strategies defined in the active acceleration performance model; if the acceleration performance model is not set to calculate fuel flow, then fuel flow will not be calculated for this performance model, either.
  • Override - manually specify the fuel flow in the Override Fuel Flow field.
Consider Acceleration for Fuel Flow Select this check box to modify the calculated fuel flow rate according to the acceleration of the aircraft during the procedure.