Spacing now–
Closest–
Widest–
Wingman from lead–
Training aid only, not for flight use. Turn numbers are simplified (no wind, standard day). Follow current T-38 guidance (AFMAN 11-2T-38V3) and your instructors. © 2026 Pure Pursuit.
Two aircraft start side by side and begin a turn at the same instant. The lead turns from heading 360 to its exit heading (180 by default). Change the wingman's airspeed, bank angle or g, and headings to see where each one ends up and how the spacing changes. Scroll down for examples.
Each example changes one thing from the normal picture (both jets 350 indicated at 15,000 ft, 65° bank, 6,000 ft apart, wingman on lead's left, right turn). The dashed jet shows where the jet that made the error would normally be.
How it works: the lead starts at heading 360 and turns to its exit heading (180 by default). Speeds are indicated airspeed; the sim converts them to true airspeed for each aircraft's altitude (standard day, no wind). Each aircraft flies a level, coordinated turn: bank angle sets the g (g = 1 ÷ cos bank), and airspeed plus bank set the turn rate and radius. Faster means a bigger, slower turn; more bank means a tighter, quicker one. Both aircraft fly straight after rolling out. The scale bar at the bottom left shows the grid size.
You are the wingman, abeam lead on heading 360 and on the inside of the turn. Lead turns 90° first, toward you. You hold straight for a few seconds, then turn the same way. Done right, you swap sides and finish abeam on the new heading. This tab is for practising the second turn: when to start it, and what lead looks like from your cockpit at that moment. Scroll down for examples.
Each example changes one thing from the normal picture (both jets 350 indicated at 15,000 ft, 2.4 g, 6,000 ft apart, you abeam on the inside of a right turn, turning at the normal time). The dashed jet shows where you would normally be.
How it works: speeds are indicated airspeed; the sim converts them to true airspeed for the altitude you set (standard day, no wind), because true airspeed sets how fast the jets cover the spacing. Each jet flies at a steady speed and turns at the chosen g in a level turn, so the radius comes from true airspeed and g. Jets roll into and out of the turn instantly and there is no wind. "Worked out" picks the delay that puts the two jets abeam the moment both have rolled out. If the speeds differ, they drift apart after that. The turn cue shows where lead appears from your cockpit at the moment you start your turn.