FighterControl

Back in the old days, there were regular take offs and landings by pairs of fighter aircraft, Lightnings, Phantoms etc. and yet today one does not see this at fighter stations quite as often. My question is, why did they do this? Was it a method of quick despatch and recovery of aircraft, or was it just to hone the pilots skills in formation flying even further?
And why does it only appear to be fighters, and not other smaller types?

Good question, I have often wondered why too. My guess is it's a combination of what you said, but I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see this so much these days as it's down to the risk factors involved? Just a guess though, I'm sure someone else on here will have the answer.

Hawks do it.

Pair of Typhoons launched and landed together today at Coningsby.

Even better when three do a launch/recovery

Most likely because these days, numbers of aircraft in the air aren't whats required. One Typhoon with one Paveway can do the job of several Buccaneers for example.
Plus of course, an increasing amount of training these days is done on simulators.

7

I wonder if a lot of it is down to aircraft performance too? Previously aircraft had a fairly small envelope when climbing out, so departing together made it easier to stay in that envelope.

Now we have Typhoons, etc. that can operate quite happily at everything from 150 to 450kts on departure, meaning they can depart as singletons and form up without any real hassle.

One of my last sightings of 2020 were a pair of 6 Sqdn Typhoons on pairs approach for a PD go around to Edinburgh Airport in December, quite some sight.

Is it training for emergencies when instrumentation is lost or unreliable? maybe not necessary with triplicate systems amd glass cockpits these days though.

Last year (Feb2020) at Albacete the AdlA Typhoons nearly always departed and landed 'holding hands' . I know what you mean though as the Spanish stood out as a reminder to bygone days.

Saw at least 2 pairs of typhoons coming to land as i drove to work today.

Accompanied let down is what you might be seeing, but not the definition of the term which relates to 'breastfeeding mothers with an oversupply of milk' - the other one.

I agree that pairs departures and arrivals are not as common as they once were, but while I was thinking about that at a hazy Leeming this afternoon...

Leeming 03 06 2021-6 by Petepilot, on Flickr