I've been on the "receiving end" of several formations of GA aircraft on long-ish trips as a controller. When the pilots involved are 'professional' it's great. When it's clear that the parties involved are a bit uncertain about what to do, it's not much fun. (4 Germans doing a sudden "fan" split in between other tfc on downwind........
)
Many groups fly past here each summer, and the ones that I find most "pro", fly as singletons, and are obviously following a game plan with time and speed spacing.
(Long trail with 5-10 miles gaps, same speed)
As a PPL I would never attempt it without instruction from someone experienced in formation flying.
Our military customers never take formation flying lightly, for obvious reasons.
Would a MIL pilot accept to fly any kind of formation with a pilot who's skill level in formation flying is unknown?
