I would like to know if there are any downloads out there to fly formation with.  The AI stuff is neat but you cannot fly close formations with them because they seem to have this box around them which if you get near it, there is an automatic collision.  I do not want to do on line flying, just looking for a download if there is any.
  Thanks. 

Look for the Red Arrows demonstation team here at simviation.  Also there are some at Avsim.com.  They are pretty good if you are looking for some aircraft flying in formation.  The only other way I can think of flying formation is to do it online with a buddy.

Try On-line flying. Just d/load Roger Wilco, create a channel, open Multiplayer and fly with a mate. I have great fun flying formation with my friend. I am talking Multiplayer, not Vatsim or Ivao with ATC controllers. Just the two of you ( more if you wish ). Better than ready made formations. Hva fun. Tony ( terbert)

Hi all,

The Red Arrows formation (and the Midnight Hawks formation) are constructed from a single aircraft model, so it's not possible to just, say, stick four F-16s together to produce the same result unless you're as clever as Mikko and Kari are at pushing the limits of what's possible in FS.  The three variants of the Hawk formation (four and nine non-animated, and now the GMAX animated four) are all based on Mikko Maliniemi's initial aircraft, and then instead of using animation for the usual things, that ability within GMAX is used for moving the separate parts (i.e. aircraft) about.

Thus, some sacrifices have to be made to achieve this, although the latest GMAX stuff ain't missin' much.

We posted an upgrade this week for those who might have missed it; this improves the panel a little, adds more voice commands for the display changes and offers a much neater main fuselage bitmap which now makes them look really sharp.

To the chap above who's bored with them (LOL) please note that the panel is fully functional and as realistic as we could get it to be at this point.  In other words, you can fly the aircraft reasonably accurately.  I get mails from a bunch of ex-RAF pilots who fly the single Hawk in multiplayer 'formations' on a fairly 'serious' basis and do the whole thing by the numbers.  It seems to work for them, anyway.

Hope you enjoy the aircraft and the recent mods, in any case.  Try them with smoke on, in tower view/active camera, with the right soundset and the volume way up .... awesome.

If I can find a way to put together the Thunderbirds, you'll be the first to know!  Meanwhile, look out for the 'Saudi Hawks' next weekend.

Mark

Thank you for giving a detailed answer on how the formation building process goes. I would love to be the first to know about a Thunderbird formation.
I have a blast flying the Red Arrows formation around, but it's kind of funny doing a Thunderbird routine in the Red Arrows colors.

Chris