Formation flying is the disciplined flight of two or more aircraft under the command of a flight leader.

Military pilots use formations for mutual defense and concentration of firepower.

In civil aviation

Civil aviation

Civil aviation is one of two major categories of flying, representing all non-military aviation, both private and commercial. Most of the countries in the world are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization and work together to establish common standards and recommended practices...

, formation flying is performed at air shows

Air show

An air show is an event at which aviators display their flying skills and the capabilities of their aircraft to spectators in aerobatics. Air shows without aerobatic displays, having only aircraft displayed parked on the ground, are called "static air shows"....

 and is also flown for recreation. Formation flying also has been discussed as a means to reduce fuel use by minimizing drag.

See also

• Aerobatics
  Aerobatics
  Aerobatics is the practice of flying maneuvers involving aircraft attitudes that are not used in normal flight. Aerobatics are performed in airplanes and gliders for training, recreation, entertainment and sport...
  
  
• Flypast
  Flypast
  Flypast is a term used in the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and other countries to denote ceremonial or honorific flights by groups of aircraft and, rarely, by a single aircraft...
  
  
• :Category:Modern aerobatic teams - list of contemporary military formation flying teams.