(Loose) formation flying

[KeyPilot]

I used to ride a motorcycle without a crash helmet because I thought I knew best and it was legal. It was obviously perfectly safe because I never got hurt - mind you, nothing unexpected happened and I never fell off.

The problem with formation is that it can go wrong, and go wrong very quickly. Again, it is coping with contingencies that separates a good, safe formation from one that just got away with it because the weather stayed good, nothing went u/s and no-one lost sight of the other aircraft.

I'll say no more except to say that there is a broad range of experience posting on PPRuNe; every individual can choose which particular advice they take on board.

Here, here