The 7th Annual Mooney Caravan Formation Flying Clinic is back at KHYI (San Marcos, TX) on Friday, June 12th, to Sunday, June 14th, 2020.
Weather Back up Date (if required): TBD
AIRPORT FACILITIES
FBO: Berry Aviation at KHYI
(512) 353-2379
West End of Ramp
Classrooms and Briefing Areas: Commemorative Air Force Hanger (CAF Hanger)
Large WWII Type Hanger on East End of Ramp
PURPOSE
The primary objective of the Clinic is to prepare new/ inexperienced formation pilots for participation in the Mooney Caravan to Oshkosh, and re-qualify previous participants for the 2020 Caravan.
The Clinic will focus on 2-ship basics: formation takeoff, fingertip station-keeping, route, cross-unders, close trail, and formation landing.
"New to Formation" Pilots will fly with Safety Pilots and will be trained using Pre and Post flying briefings in your aircraft actual aircraft in actual conditions.
Note: Pilots with previous formation experience may be able to fly in 3 or 4 ship Elements, and will be trained to act as Element Leads for the Mooney Caravan Flight into Oshkosh.
The Mooney Caravan organization is dedicated to facilitating a safe and enjoyable formation mass arrival flight into AirVenture Oshkosh each year, as well as developing opportunities (such as these clinics) throughout the year to get together and fly our fantastic airplanes. Our participants share a strong sense of camaraderie and the friendship’s born via our common interests in aviation and Mooney aircraft, spanning the continent and the entire year between Oshkosh Caravan flights. The enjoyment and enthusiasm which we all experience at AirVenture doesn’t wear off; we keep it going throughout the year!
HOTEL
We have a group rate at the Wingate by Wyndham in San Marcos, TX. $109/night for single (queen) or double (2 queens) rooms. Book online or call 512-754-6621.
SCHEDULE
Clinic starts at 0800 on Friday, June 12, 2020
FRIDAY (June 12th):
- Arrival at KHYI prior to 0800
- At 0800 to 0900: Basic Formation Ground School for all Newbies and Basic Level Pilots
- Mooney Caravan Safety Meeting: Organizational meeting and Planning Session: Practice area/ Frequencies/ Hi-Lo Areas/ Elements
- 0900 to 1000: Short Newbie Familiarization Flights- 2 ship with Newbies:
- Intermediate/ Advanced: Formation Flights as Elements
- 1000 to 1700: Formation Flight Training as Elements
- Lunch at CAF Hanger (Cost of Lunch included with Clinic)
- 1800: Refreshments (Tall Tails of Aviation Prowess expected)
- 1830: Dinner as a Group (Cost not included with Clinic)
SATURDAY (June 13th):
- 0600 to 0730: Breakfast on your own
- 0730: Van and surface transportation to KHYI (Note: If you miss the ride, you’re on your own to get to the airport)
- 0800 to 1745: Element Sorties (with briefs and debriefs)
- Lunch at CAF Hanger (Cost of lunch included with Clinic)
- 1800: Refreshments at (Continued Tall Tails of Aviation Prowess expected)
- 1830: Dinner as a Group (Cost not included with Clinic)
SUNDAY (June 14th):
- 0600 to 0730: Breakfast on your own and Checkout of Hotel
- 0730: Van and surface transportation to KHYI (Note: If you miss the ride, you’re on your own to get to the airport)
- 0800 to 1000: Basic Sorties and/ or Caravan Simulation/ Practice
- 1000 + Optional (More sorties or practice) Clinic officially over.
HOMEWORK
Download and read the Mooney Caravan Formation Guide prior to attending the clinic. Newbies: Watch this video of the ground training (filmed at an earlier San Marcos/KHYI Clinic):
For anyone interested in working on their FAST/FFI card ratings, download and read the "Red Star Training Guide" from the website www.flyredstar.org (member's access required) or the FFI Formation Guide at their website.
When reading the Mooney Caravan Formation Guide, please concentrate on the following:
- Formation Ground Operations- Departures
- Ground Operations- Run up
- Element Takeoff
- Interval Takeoff
Two Ship Formation Maneuvers
- Fingertip position
- Fingertip Maneuvering
- Route Position
- Turns in Route
- Cross Under
Formation Recoveries
- Element Approach and Landing
- VFR Traffic Pattern Recoveries
- Overhead Pattern
- Taxi and Shutdown
Attachment 3: Standard Formation Hand Signals A-8
The above is everything you need to know to safely participate in the Mooney Caravan Oshkosh Arrival. Everything else is additional information needed for more advanced formation flying, and will be emphasized and learned as you progress and want to do more.
Note (again): If you have not read a Guide (Mooney, FFI, or Red Star) prior to coming to this clinic, you may not fly in the clinic.
