Missing Man formation by Homebuilts, June 1994

Home; Aviation; Cameras; Fiction; Health&Safety; Military; MS-Apps; Non-Fiction; Submarine; Technical; Trains; Watches; Transportation

Missing Man formation by Homebuilts, June 1994

Edited by David Barth February 2016. Photos were taken by David Barth.

This was a flight from Arapahoe Airport over Marilyn Schneider's memorial that was at a church within the Buckley Air National Guard Airport airspace in which four pilots executed a "horizontal" missing man formation. It had to be horizontal due to altitude restrictions at Buckley. Traditional military missing man formations are accomplished by the lead pilot of four planes pulling up into a near-vertical climb, leaving his buddies, as though ascending toward heaven. The remaining three planes continue forward flight. The maneuver is spectacular.

The day before the flight, Charlie Harris had arranged for the flyover by telephone with Buckley Air Traffic Control (ATC). Buckley ATC rules were that we had to orbit, on station, south of Buckley airspace, ready to cross the airport boundary, northbound, at a specific time, location, and altitude, and exit to the south a certain number of minutes thereafter because Air Force traffic into and out of Buckley had to be coordinated with our flight.

The pilots flew in loose formation. They were David Barth, flying Art Wilson's RV-6, who, because he was the only pilot who was a flight instructor and had more flying experience than the others, was assigned to execute the sharp left turn for the missing man formation; Charlie Harris with his wife, Cathy, flying his Q-2 - he navigated and signaled David when to execute the missing man maneuver; Steve Alderman in his KR-2; and Gary Blackwell, flying with his 80-year-old mother, in his Dragonfly.

We entered Buckley Airspace at the assigned time and flew over the church where Marilyn's memorial was being held. The people at the memorial were told what time to expect our arrival and to step outside the church to watch the flyover.

David flew on the west side of the formation with Charlie Harris on his right. The other two pilots flew on Charlie's right. As we flew over the church, Charlie Harris dipped his wings, signaling David to peel off sharply to the left as the missing man. Charlie and the other two pilots flew northbound for a few more seconds before making a 180 degree left turn, in formation, to follow David who had reduced his speed to allow the other three planes to catch up. They exited Buckley airspace and returned to Arapahoe Airport.

After-action reports from those who viewed the missing man formation from the ground was that it was a spectacular display of airmanship, and an appropriate addition to the memorial for Marilyn Schnieder who had been a long-time aviation enthusiast.

Back on the ground, all four pilots realized this had been a once-in-a-lifetime event, and they were proud to have participated.

Missing Man formation by Homebuilts, June 1994.

This is David Barth with Art Wilson's RV6 at the Granby Airport, winter 1992. (David's picture wasn't taken before the missing man flight.)

Charlie Harris' Q-200 ready to fly missing
man formation by Homebuilts, June 1994.

Missing Man formation by Homebuilts, June 1994.

Flight leader and formation navigator Charlie Harris flew with his wife, Cathy, in his Q-200.

Missing Man formation by Homebuilts, June 1994.

Charlie Harris and his wife, Cathy, in his Q-200. He signaled the start of the missing man maneuver.

Steve Alderman with his KR-2, prepared for flying
the Missing Man formation by Homebuilts, June 1994.

Missing Man formation by Homebuilts, June 1994.

This is Gary Blackwell with his 80-year-old mother in the right seat of his Dragonfly.

Missing Man formation by Homebuilts, June 1994.

Here we are, forming up in loose formation, preparing to enter Buckley airspace. Charlie Harris is leading in his Q-2, followed by Steve Alderman. The picture was taken by David Barth in Art Wilson's RV-6. As a flight instructor, David nearly always flew from the right seat as he did for this flight. The nose of Gary Blackwell's Dragonfly is at the far right of the picture as Gary catches up.

Missing Man formation by Homebuilts, June 1994.

Here we are closing the formation. David is catching up with Charlie's Q-2. Gary's Dragonfly is still catching up, to the right of Steve Alderman, outside the picture. At this point, David put the camera down in the left seat to concentrate on flying in formation in preparation to make the sharp left turn for the missing man.