How close is too close? ...

[Mark Allen M]

... Looks pretty close to me. Seems to be some sort of transport with the door open? That would mean moving somewhat slow for an F3H to be up that close wouldn't it? Seems awfully close.


Close-up view of an F3H-2N Demon during a flight by McDonnell test pilot Gerald Huelsbeck on August 28, 1956

[Randy Haskin]

That's not really any closer than any other formation flying. His flaps aren't even down, so he can't be that close to the bottom end of the speed envelope, either.

Besides...the title "test pilot" in the caption stuck out at me when I read it!

[Cvairwerks]

Not close at all.... Here is close: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_OYPs29rtk

[Mark Allen M]

... and there ya have it!! not close at all.

[Malo83]

Not close at all.... Here is close: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_OYPs29rtk

Yup! that's close

[Stoney]

You have to wonder what they use for a reference point when their that close

[Deuelly]

You have to wonder what they use for a reference point when their that close

The banging sound on the canopy.

[DH82EH]

OK that right there was really funny!

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015 ... /75044212/

Here's a pretty cool 360 degree video of the Blues in action.

Andy

[JohnTerrell]

When your wingman's wingtip is closer to you than your own wingtip:

[Stoney]

john
30 years ago I landed my SNJ in a small strip in Kansas and two old guys came out to see it, they said somethings wrong with the SNJ, I said what and they said there's no dents in the wing tips, we always banged wings tip in formation for fun.

[flypa38]

If you haven't already tried it, that video of the Blues in 360 is amazing with the Google cardboard thing!

[expat]

The Royal Air Force has had a go

http://gizmodo.com/283575/typhoon-strik ... 575&item=0

[Firebird]

The Royal Air Force has had a go

http://gizmodo.com/283575/typhoon-strik ... 575&item=0

RAF has form in this regard.......

How about C-130 behind C-130 ....... (but what the hell a piper is doing standing there in shot is probably more of puzzle )

[John Dupre]

I remember reading that during WW2 some USAAF bombers would fly formation so close that the waist gunners could reach out and touch the wing tip of the other aircraft in the formation. Can't remember which types were mentioned and don't have an opinion on whether that is even possible given where the propeller tips would be if that close.

[Randy Haskin]

Unfortunately, that's hyperbole.