Unfortunately close formation flying is becoming more and more a thing of the past for the normal squadron pilot as the emphasis is now on tactical formation flying.

But as these pictures show, many pilots around the world are still exceptional when it comes to the old skill of close formation flying in the perfect line abreast or echelon formation and all credit is due to these pilots who made the following images possible.

The Tengah based Black Knight aerobatic team was flying six Douglas A-4SU Skyhawks in the 1994 season.

Indian Air Force

Three Jodhpur based MiG-23BN Flogger-Hs from No.10 Squadron in the perfect line abreast formation.

Three Peshawar based Shenyang F-6 Farmers in a fan peal-off near the Afghan boarder.

Colombian Air Force

Three Barranquilla based Cessna OA-37Bs Dragonfly from No.411 Squadron flying an echelon formation over the Andes.

Four McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornets from No.9 and 18 Squadrons in an echelon formation over the Persian Gulf.

Portuguese Air Force

Five Monte Real based Vought A-7P Corsair IIs from No.302 Attack Squadron in a belly turn over Cape de Sao Vicente at the very south of Portugal.

Four Pune based MiG-29 Fulcrum-As from No.28 and 47 Squadrons in an echelon formation over the Arabian Sea.

Pakistan Air Force

Two Sargodha based General Dynamics F-16As from No.9 Squadron over the Himalayan foothills.