Four MGA School of Aviation flight instructors recently achieved their largest formation flight so far over the Eastman Campus. They were practicing for a formation air show tentatively planned for fall or spring 2024. Riding in an MGA helicopter piloted by instructor Dylan McCoy, aviation student Egor Shitov captured these images and video.
The flight formation they engaged in is called a finger-four formation, with four planes spaced like fingers on a hand - one on one side of the leader and two on the other side. It originated as a formation for fighter aircraft but is also used in air shows and to honor fallen pilots. Piloting the Piper Archers you see in the images and video are Gene Behrends, assistant chief flight instructor; and certified flight instructors Emily Smart, Hunter Rolader, and Matthew McIntosh.
