Photos	Videos	Events	Pilots	Contact

About Us

The SoCal RV Formation Squadron is a group of pilots from southern California, Nevada, and Arizona who fly their airplanes in formation at air shows and various other aviation events. While we are not affiliated with the military (although some of our pilots are former military) all of our pilots are trained and evaluated according to strict formation flying standards that were developed by the U.S. Air Force and Navy. We fly with a degree of discipline and precision that is nearly unparalleled in any other realm of civilian aviation. We are not a "rag tag" group of airplanes flying "near" each other, but rather a demonstration of sheer skill and dedication to the art of formation flying.

Formation flying is not something just any pilot can do — at least not without a considerable amount of training and practice. We take our performances very seriously, and we practice together on a regular basis. We are committed to safety and professionalism.

We fly custom-built "RV" airplanes such as the RV-4, RV-6, RV-7, and RV-8. Our airplanes are powerful and highly maneuverable, which lends itself well to formation flying. Many of us built our own airplanes in our garages and hangars (read our pilot bios for details). We have a tremendous sense of pride in this accomplishment, and this pride is evident in the way we fly together. In all of our routines you will see symmetry, precision, and grace.

Air Shows & Fly-Ins

Our pilots have flown formation routines at air shows and fly-ins all around the country, such as EAA's AirVenture at Oshkosh, EAA's Golden West, Aviation Nation at Nellis AFB, Boulder City Airport Day, and the Cable Air Show. We are honored to have performed along with acts such as Sean D. Tucker and the Thunderbirds. Check our events page for more info.

Missing Man / Honorary Services

When an aviator passes away, a wonderful way to honor them is the Missing Man formation. This is a four-ship formation fly-over in which one pilot pulls up and out of the formation, leaving a symbolic empty slot in honor of the "missing man." We have flown numerous Missing Man memorial services. While it is a solemn experience, it can be incredibly emotional and moving for the family and loved ones who wish to honor those who have passed on.

Aviation-Related Events

We have flown formation demonstrations at various aviation-related events, such as the Centennial of Flight celebration over the California Science Center, and the career day for kids at Tomorrow's Air Museum in Compton.

If you are coordinating an event and would like the SoCal RV Formation Squadron to perform, please contact us for scheduling.

Formation Flying Clinics

If you're interested in getting involved in formation flying, and you want to do it safely, please contact us. We conduct formation flying clinics from time to time, and we ourselves practice quite often (to say the least). If you fly an RV aircraft and want to enjoy the rewards of safe and disciplined formation flying, we are always looking for more talented pilots to join our team. Refer to the information on our Southwest Formation Clinic web site for a general sense of what is involved.