fluid four

Fluid four formation.

The most common four-aircraft tactical formation, where a second pair of aircraft are loosely spread out in both the vertical and horizontal planes to provide mutual cross-cover and support.

References in periodicals archive ?

Malan helped the RAF move from the rigid three aircraft "vic" formation to the four aircraft "fingertip," thereafter evolving to the "fluid four" formations seen for the next half century in the USAF.

Fighter Aces of the RAF in the Battle of Britain

British Empire fighter pilots moved from single aircraft to formation tactics; specifically, they invented the "finger four" formation, known to US airmen down through the next 60 years or so as "fluid four." On 30 April 1916, Capt William Milne led the first finger-four flight, and a second Canadian, Lt C.

Knights of the Air: Canadian Fighter Pilots in the First World War

Fighter pilots today would recognize his formation with a division of four aircraft divided into two mutually supporting sections of two aircraft each--today called the "fluid four." The result was that look out was improved.