What type of pursuit requires pointing the aircraft nose behind number 1's flight path?

Lag pursuit is the correct choice because it refers to a flight maneuver where the aircraft's nose is pointed behind the lead aircraft's flight path. This type of pursuit is typically used to maintain a safe distance from the lead aircraft while still allowing for effective position management in formation flying. It often occurs in scenarios where the following aircraft aims to avoid excessive closure rates that can lead to a collision or require abrupt maneuvering.

Understanding lag pursuit is crucial for safety and coordination in formation flying, as it enables the aircraft to effectively track the lead without getting too close or risking over-controlling the relative position. In a lag pursuit, the pilot maintains visual contact with the lead but allows for the necessary separation to adapt to changes in speed and flight path.

Other pursuit types, such as lead or pure pursuit, involve the aircraft pointing either directly at or ahead of the lead's path, which is not in line with the requirement of keeping the aircraft nose behind the flight path of number one. Cross pursuit is not typically referenced in standard flying terminology in the context of formation flying, which makes lag pursuit the most accurate response to the question posed.