Planes fly 1 mile horizontal and 1000 feet vertical for a reason and it is the law. Two or three jets flying a formation would have to be closely computer controlled. Passenger jets would not be safe. Freight jets would be a different story. When jumbo jets started flying some small planes were knocked out of the sky by turbulence. Think what turbulence a formation of these guys would cause.
“As a general rule, narrow-bodied airliners like the Boeing 737 or A320 have to leave a one-minute gap between each other or a two minute gap if following a wide-bodied airliner,” Brady said.
Is a two minute gap between flights able to provide any lift benefit at all? Especially at a mile every 6 seconds?
Will it be safe to operate at 12 second intervals?
Note that the FAA classifies the A380 in a new turbulence category "Super" along with the AN-225.
Also how many planes are going the same direction at the same time? Atlanta is one of the busiest airports. So you’ve got one taking off for New York, then a few minutes later Chicago, a few minutes later, LAX, and then say Miami.
Really. Then how has the air armed forces gotten away with it since the byplane? Hmmmmm?
Standard separation between aircraft is 3 miles, not 1 mile.
5 miles
This formation might make sense in very long haul flights crossing the ocean but only marginally. Airlines would have already been doing this if it saved them much fuel.
Flight shaming is real.