I guess I first learned about formation flying when my flight instructor, Larry Whitesell, told a story involving—he thought—his buddy, Vince Wynn, who instructed for a school up the road, Cardinal Flight Training. When they’d spy each other in the practice area, they’d often join up for some formation flying. On this occasion, according to Larry, “I saw the Cardinal’s Champ below and in front of me and joined on his right wing. But I lost the big grin on my face when, looking over into the Champ’s rear seat, I saw—instead of Vince—an FAA inspector named Dan Wright giving a private pilot check ride. He was something less than happy, and back on the ground, I dutifully reported to the GADO. Dan raised holy hell, and I was abjectly contrite, assuring him it was the first time and would never happen again. He dropped it.”
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