formate
To assemble flying aircraft into formation; to fly in formation.
formate: fly wing-to-wing in tight, coordinated groups
To formate is to assemble aircraft into a tight, disciplined geometric pattern in flight, with each aircraft maintaining precise spacing, altitude, and heading relative to a lead ship. In military aviation, formation flying has been the standard for transport, bomber, and fighter operations since the early days of powered flight. A typical fighter formation consists of two to four aircraft; transport and bomber formations can number a dozen or more. The lead aircraft sets course and altitude; all other aircraft (called wingmen or elements) adjust their flight continuously to maintain position.
Formation flying reduces radar signature when multiple aircraft fly as one blip rather than separate returns, improves fuel efficiency through slipstreaming effects (particularly for trailing aircraft), and allows a flight to stay together under instrument conditions using visual references alone. Loose formations, called parade position, keep aircraft 20 to 40 feet apart; tight formations close that to 5 to 10 feet, with wings nearly overlapping. Echelon formations offset wingmen to the side and rear; line abreast spreads them sideways; fingertip formation, common in fighters, clusters four aircraft in a diamond or stepped pattern.
Formating requires intense pilot concentration. Wing tip vortices from the lead ship create severe buffeting and control instability for trailing aircraft, especially in climb or turn. Wake turbulence has caused formation breakups and mid-air collisions. Weather reduces visibility to reference points; instrument failure in the lead forces a quick abort. Formating training is mandatory in military aviation; commercial operators rarely use it except for display or delivery ferry flights.
The term comes from the noun formation, the geometric arrangement itself. In ground crew and maintenance terminology, formate most often appears in pre-flight planning briefs, dispatch orders, and unit standing operating procedures. A crew may be tasked to formate on a specific aircraft, meaning fly in its formation. Maintenance personnel need to understand formation constraints because they affect fuel calculations, flight envelope limits, and damage reporting: a winged aircraft in tight formation can incur aerodynamic stress and vibration damage not recorded in solo flight data.