What is the spacing number 2 will have after delaying 5 seconds on a pitchout?

In a T-6 formation, during a pitchout maneuver, the spacing between aircraft is critical for maintaining formation integrity and safety. When one aircraft delays its pitchout by a few seconds, the distance it is expected to achieve relative to another aircraft is calculated based on a standard separation distance and the time delay.

Typically, in formation flying, the standard separation during a pitchout is about 3000 feet between aircraft in a line abreast configuration. If one aircraft delays its pitchout by 5 seconds, it will move forward, covering additional ground due to its speed.

In the T-6, a common ground speed during such maneuvers is approximately 200 knots. When converting speed into a distance over time, 5 seconds at 200 knots (where 1 knot equals 1 nautical mile per hour) results in a significant distance traveled. For instance, at 200 knots, the aircraft covers roughly 0.33 nautical miles or about 2000 feet in 6 seconds. Therefore, if you calculate the additional distance covered in 5 seconds, it would be approximately 1667 feet.

Considering this additional distance, when the original separation of 3000 feet is added to the distance traveled during the delay, the