Formation flight system keeps C-17s in line Published Sept. 22, 2010 By Kenji Thuloweit 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 418th Flight Test Squadron concluded flight testing this week to evaluate modifications made to the C-17 Globemaster III formation flight system. The flight test required multiple C-17s to fly in formation to test and validate how the FFS performs. The FFS enables the pilot to monitor and fly the aircraft in formation with other C-17s at the same altitude and distance in any weather condition. "It gives the C-17 an all-weather capability to fly in formation through all regimes of flight including air refueling, air drop and also recovery into airfields," said Air Force Reserve Lt. Col. Stan Davis, 315th Airlift Wing, Operations Group Standardization and Evaluation deputy chief, Charleston AFB. The C-17 has a basic mission requirement to be able to fly large-scale formations, both in clear and inclement weather. The purpose is to be able to deliver a sizeable force of both personnel and their equipment into a hostile environment with speed and accuracy. The FFS replaces the old system, called the station keeping equipment system, which was used by the C-17 and other Air Force aircraft. The C-17 SKE system developed problems, which restricted the cargo plane from flying in certain weather. "I flew with the SKE system about eight years ago when I was an operational C-17 pilot at McChord AFB, said Maj. Donevan Rein, 418th FLTS C-17 flight commander. "Knowing the issues we had with the SKE then, from what I have seen in the last couple test flights and flying here at Edwards, the FFS has worked flawlessly." The lead pilot is responsible for sending information electronically through the system to the other C-17s so the entire formation is flying at the proper speed and altitude. Along with Edwards' 418th FLTS, the testing involved several agencies, Air Mobility Command provided six C-17s for the tests; three came from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., and three from Charleston AFB, S.C. Dozens of civilians, maintainers and pilots from around the Air Force took part in the test as it took the cargo planes all the way to Charleston from Edwards this week. Airmen from Air Force Reserve Command also participated in the two-week-long training event. Colonel Davis said Pacific Air Forces even provided several maintainers for the flight testing. This seven-ship flight test is a build-up of previous tests. Initially, the formation flight system was tested at Edwards in the summer of 2008. Later, it was tested at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., in four-ship formation. Last year at Edwards, the 418th FLTS conducted flight tests using a six-ship formation.