Formation Flying

The Blade Flyer is a natural for Formation flying,* which can be used to reduce the number of pilots for all the vehicles in a formation to one. Formation flying also simplifies airspace flight control, and can take advantage of the venetian blind effect used by geese and sloop-rigged sailboats.

Offset

A set of Blade Flyers physically offset on the ground can be simultaneously controlled by one Controller Computer such that the offset is maintained throughout the flight.

Follow the Leader

Subsequent Blade Flyers can follow the lead of preceding Blade Flyers such that only the first Blade Flyer needs to be controlled.

Performance Optimization

Preset "default" horizontal and vertical offsets can be adjusted by performance-seeking programs in each Blade Flyer to achieve the optimum benefits of formation flying by seeking to minimize fuel consumption while maintaining relative formation position.

* DARPA, "The X-Plane Imperative" by Dr. Thomas Beutner, Program Manager,Tactical Technology Office