If a wingman loses sight while in a descending turn, what should they do?

When a wingman loses sight of their lead during a descending turn, the recommended action is to roll wings level and inform the lead, then continue straight ahead. This response prioritizes safety by quickly stabilizing the aircraft's position, which helps to avoid any potential collisions or further complications in flight formation.

By rolling wings level, the wingman ensures that they are not continuing to maneuver in a way that could further complicate the visual separation from the lead. Informing the lead allows mitigation strategies to be employed, as the lead can then perform maneuvers to re-establish visual contact. Continuing straight ahead provides a predictable flight path while the lead addresses the situation.

This approach helps maintain safe separation and allows both aircraft to regroup effectively, demonstrating the importance of communication and clear situational awareness in flight operations. Other responses such as leveling off or climbing may not effectively address the situation, as they could lead to unexpected positioning of the aircraft in relation to each other.