Training for the 2024 Mass Arrival

Updated May 30, 2024 15:03 EDT

Introduction

The cornerstone of the success of our past mass arrivals and those of other organizations is formation flight training. The hallmark of formation flight training is the training clinic. Each clinic consist of two parts, a ground portion with an audiovisual presentation and a ramp exercise, and a flight portion which may include one or more practice flights in which the required maneuvers for all the phases of the arrival flight are practiced. Each PIC trainee will have an experienced safety pilot in the right seat during the training flight(s).

We require that every pilot who wants to participate in our mass arrival attend at least one formation flight clinic or training session during the calendar year of the arrival. For those who are current and proficient in formation flight and have the opportunity to practice in their local area, we encourage them to do so, preferably with one of our lead pilots in charge of the practice. To those pilots who do not have formation flight experience and to those with previous experience but who are not current, we recommend against engaging in formation flight until attending a formation clinic or training session.

 
MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS TO FLY THE MASS ARRIVAL
The three absolute requirements a pilot must meet to fly the mass arrival are:
1.   To participate in one formation flight clinic or training session during the calendar year of the arrival.*
2.   To be on the ground and checked in at Dodge County Airport by 11:00:00 AM CDT on Friday, July 19, 2024.*
3.   To participate in the preflight brief prior to our departure from KUNU to KOSH.*
*No exceptions

In 2025 the final pre-flight brief will take place on July 18, starting sharply at 1:00:00 PM CDT, in the main hangar of Wisconsin Aviation at Dodge County Airport in Juneau, Wisconsin. In order to be assigned to a position in the mass arrival flight and participate in the final preflight brief, a pilot must be on the ground at Juneau and checked in by 11:00:00 AM CDT (UTC-5).

The "textbook" of our formation flight training clinics is the slide presentation by Rodney Swanson, our Director of Training and Operations. We encourage every participating pilot to review this presentation prior to attending the clinic. Rodney or the designated lead pilot of the clinic will go over it in detail during the formation training clinic. You can find Rodney's presentation in the next section on this page.

We have also provided a link to The T-34 Association Formation Manual and several links to the manuals of other organizations. These are provided as reference for participating pilots wishing to expand on their theoretical knowledge of formation flight.

Setting up for takeoff during a formation clinic practice.Crossing over from position 2 to position 3 in the element during a formation clinic practice.At the bottom of this page participating pilots can find our legal waiver form. Please bring this form to the formation training clinic.

Godspeed!

 

Updated January 19, 2022 09:26 EST

Cessnas 2 Oshkosh (C2O) - Cherokees to Oshkosh (CtO) Agreement

The Cessnas 2 Oshkosh (C2O) and the Cherokees to Oshkosh (CtO) organizations have reached a mutual collaboration agreement for the purpose of training our pilots to fly the mass arrival into Oshkosh. Under this agreement, the Cherokees to Oshkosh (CtO) pilots are welcome to attend our clinics and our pilots are welcome to attend their clinics. Attendance to a clinic of one of the two organizations, the training received and the clearance to fly the mass arrival granted by the clinic's lead pilot will be honored by the reciprocal organization.

Cherokees to Oshkosh (CtO) pilots who wish to participate in one of our clinics must have approval from Ed LeBlanc, Director of Air Operations for Cherokees to Oshkosh (CtO). Send Ed a message via this link.

Cessnas 2 Oshkosh (C2O) pilots who wish to participate in one of Cherokees to Oshkosh (CtO) clinics must have approval from Rodney Swanson, our Director of Training and Operations. Send Rodney a message via this link.

This cross-training option is not available for new Cessnas 2 Oshkosh (C2O) pilots or pilots who were not cleared by one of our lead pilots after training in one of our regular scheduled clinics.

Follow this link to view the Cherokees to Oshkosh (CtO) clinic schedule.

Rodney's Slide Presentation

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Important Documents

Mass Arrival Flight Routes
Mass Arrival Flight Routes
It is very important to program all the waypoints into your GPS units prior to your arrival in Juneau.
2024 C2O - FAA Letter of Agreement (LOA)
2024 C2O-FAA LOA
Detailed description of the arrival procedures. Familiarize yourself with this document.
Click here to download. You will need Adobe or Foxit Reader to open this document.
2024 AirVenture NOTICE
If you are flying to EAA AirVenture, this NOTICE is obligatory reading.
Click here to download. You will need Adobe or Foxit Reader to open this document.
Formation Flight Waiver
Print and bring to the formation clinics.
Click here to download. You will need Adobe or Foxit Reader to open this document.
Formation Briefing Card
Print and bring to the formation clinics.
Click here to download. You will need Adobe or Foxit Reader to open this document.
Glossary of Formation Terms
Helpful reference to understand the formation flying language.

Text References

Click here to go to The T-34 Association website where you can purchase this manual.
The T-34 Formation Manual
The authoritative reference.
T-34 Association
Click here to download. You need Adobe or Foxit Reader to open this document.
The Formation Knowledge Guide
Drew A Blahnick, Publisher
Formation and Safety Team (FAST)
Click here to download. You need Adobe or Foxit Reader to open this document.
Flight Training Instruction
Primary Formation T-34C

US Naval Training Command
2021
Click here to download. You need Adobe or Foxit Reader to open this document.
Formation Standards
and Proficiency Program Rev. 3.2

Formation Flying Incorporated
2020

Video References

Sarah Rovner's Training Video 1 2014 Cessnas 2 Oshkosh Mass Arrival
Courtesy of Sarah Rovner, May 2014

2014 Cessnas 2 Oshkosh Mass Arrival
Training Video 1
Sarah Rovner's Training Video 2 2014 Cessnas 2 Oshkosh Mass Arrival
Courtesy of Sarah Rovner, May 2014

2014 Cessnas 2 Oshkosh Mass Arrival
Training Video 2
Formation Flight Practice
Courtesy of Barry Biggs and Nate Duehr, 2010
1. Taxi into position for takeoff viewed from the Chalk 3 right wing position.
2. Chalk 3 moving into position and keeping station viewed from the lead position.
3. Chalk 2 moving into position on lead's left wing viewed from the left wing Chalk 2 position.
4. Final approach and landing.
Formation Flight Practice
Courtesy of Dave Kalwishsky, 2010
1. Chalk 2 keeping station on lead's left wing as viewed from the lead position.
2. Chalk 2 overtaking on lead's left for a lead change. Lead drops to Chalk 3 right wing position.
 
 
Sarah Rovner - Juliet-3
2013 Cessnas 2 Oshkosh Mass Arrival

Courtesy of Sarah Rovner, 2013

2013 Cessnas 2 Oshkosh Mass Arrival - Juliet-3 landing long on Runway 36R.
Erratum: Change month in the captions to July
2014 Cessnas 2 Oshkosh Flight
From the Cockpit of Element India

Courtesy of Pilot's Eye Photography, 2014

From takeoff roll out of Dodge County Airport to landing on Rwy 36 at Wittman Regional Airport.
2010 Cessnas 2 Oshkosh
Flyover Wittman Regional Airport

Courtesy of Barry Biggs & Nate Duehr, 2010

From taxi out of Dodge County Airport to the flyover Runway 36 of Wittman Regional Airport.
Fundamentals of Formation Flying Part 1/3
United States Navy Training Film, 1953
Presented only to illustrate the historical principles of formation flying.
Not intended as an illustration of the Cessnas 2 Oshkosh procedures.
Some fundamental principles apply to all types of formation flying.
Do not attempt to practice these procedures, except under FAST-sanctioned instruction.
Fundamentals of Formation Flying Part 2/3
United States Navy Training Film, 1953
Presented only to illustrate the historical principles of formation flying.
Not intended as an illustration of the Cessnas 2 Oshkosh procedures.
Some fundamental principles apply to all types of formation flying.
Do not attempt to practice these procedures, except under FAST-sanctioned instruction.
Fundamentals of Formation Flying Part 3/3
United States Navy Training Film, 1953
Presented only to illustrate the historical principles of formation flying.
Not intended as an illustration of the Cessnas 2 Oshkosh procedures.
Some fundamental principles apply to all types of formation flying.
Do not attempt to practice these procedures, except under FAST-sanctioned instruction.

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