Echelon and Echelon Turns

Echelon and Echelon Turns

Echelon position is defined as when all the aircraft in a flight are positioned to the same side of the flight lead. The most beautiful examples I have ever seen are the 2 pics here.

It is pretty easy to figure out if the flight is in echelon in a 3- or 4-ship, but what about a normal 2-ship? Are you in fingertip or echelon? The answer is: you are always in fingertip unless the flight lead, or our Cathouse Formation Standards, calls for echelon!

So, what’s the difference if we’re in echelon versus fingertip. The only difference is that 1) all turns are made away from the wingmen, and 2) the wingmen keep lead on the horizon, versus going to the high wing. See the pics below.

The main purpose for echelon turns is entering the overhead pattern. (In fact, our Standards call for automatic echelon turns in the overhead pattern.) It makes it easier to turn a flight in echelon if everyone keeps lead on the horizon versus going to a high wing, especially in a 3- or 4-ship.

As a general practice when leading a flight, I call for, or use the visual signal, for echelon formation with new wingmen, as they may not always be aware of when we are “officially” in the overhead pattern.

Copyright © 1999-2001 Gregg Wilson and the Cathouse Gang