Formation Landings

[outlaw162]

https://www.military.com/daily-news/202 ... euver.html

This is an instructor pilot problem, not a maneuver problem, or an aircraft age problem.

[spazsinbad]

These A-4 form landings are dangerous, especially the diamond 4 on the short, narrow runways at NAS Nowra long ago. It was found that unlike the 6 A-4F landings on much longer & wider USA runways our A4Gs needed the box man to arrest.

Blue Angels A-4 Diamond 6 Landing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzpLPShb21s



First photo shows A4G VF-805 CHECKMATES (ordinary front line pilots with a bit of practice & usually the CO as lead) on approach for their Diamond 4 landing with box man No.4 having hook down to SHORT FIELD ARREST during the landing.
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For giggles the attached composite photo shows the early A4G CheckMates Diamond Four Landing without no.4 arresting. As earlier noted this proved too dangerous when the box man had trouble - needing to weave through the other three.