Originally Posted by
bonajet
Solo barrel rolls maybe more gentlemanly affairs Phantom Driver but formation ones are a different kettle of fish. My personal experience is five line abreast in an aircraft with poor throttle response - for the Black Arrows there would have been better throttle response from the Avon but 3 out at the edge of the 16 diamond would have been hard work. The formation holding in the loop photographs, which I would guess are from a practice, is superb. My guess is that they flew the loop in big seven with everyone else in line astern on their individual leader. A great result, I wish I’d been there working rather than spectating as a nipper.
Agreed. Having never been part of anything greater than a 4 ship while performing barrel rolls and loops , I can only imagine the skills required in barrel rolling a 16 ship / looping a 22 ship ; smoothness and coordination ( and nerve ) of a different order required .
Hats off to Roger and his team . R.I.P