What must the wingman do to maintain proper visual formation position behind lead?

Maintaining proper visual formation position behind the lead aircraft relies primarily on visual references to ensure safe and effective positioning. By focusing on visual cues from the lead's aircraft, the wingman can accurately gauge distance, alignment, and altitude relative to the lead. This method is essential in formation flying, as it allows for dynamic adjustments based on real-time observations, ensuring that the wingman remains in the correct formation.

While communication and other tools may support the process, visual references are the primary means to achieve and maintain the desired position. Using radar for distance measurements is generally not practical in close formation flying, as it can create a sense of reliance on instruments rather than developing the visual skills necessary for formation flying. Increasing engine power could disrupt the formation by causing changes in speed that may lead to an unsafe distance. Continuous communication with the lead aircraft is important, but it's not the primary method for maintaining visual formation; the actual visual reference is the most crucial aspect in this scenario.