The wings formation flight is studied by means of theoretical aerodynamics. Each wing is modeled using the horseshoe vortex. In formation flight each wing flies in an upwash field generated by all other wings of the formation, and consequently its flight power decreases. In V formation flight the wing in a central position has a smaller local flight power reduction, while in U formation flight the local flight power reduction of each wing remains equal. In the case of a long range flight, the optimum shape is not V formation, but U formation flight. It has turned out that the value of a local flight power reduction in V formation flight is equal to that in U formation flight when the leader wing of V formation shifts to the position of a follower wing.
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