Automatic formation flight control

The problem of automatic formation fight control is addressed. An aircraft formation consisting of a Leader and Wingman is considered and this novel dynamical system is carefully modelled and analyzed. The subsequent synthesis of a Proportional plus Integral formation hold autopilot is greatly facilitated by our observation that the formation flight control system is amenable to decomposition. Extensive simulations of the nonlinear formation flight control system were performed to validate the proposed formation hold autopilot design.