Close Encounters

Had a close encounter today with Texaco:

Nu-NRG and me are a 2-ship, Eddie and Warthogsmurf another 2-ship.
Our flight is just done refueling and sitting in the reform area. Eddie is on the boom, with Warthogsmurf in the observation area.

We turn 10 degrees to the right away from the tanker track and go head's down to set radio's and such.
At that point, the tanker decides to make a 15 degree right turn.

As I come heads up and look over my right shoulder to my wingman (Nu-NRG), I see the tanker, Eddie and Warthgsmurf passing in between us....

Anyway, a picture says more than a thousand words:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV_PEomep8c

Needless to say it was quite a topic in the debriefing.

Yeah that was a real scare. saying NRG like 2-3 meters above from me

From my POV:
- My lead (Stuka) visual at roughly 11 o'clock. Check
- All of the sudden I see tanker and Recoil 1 (Eddie) on the far 9-10. Check, but that should not be.
- Split second later I realize how the paths are crossing and I don't have visual on Recoil 2 (Smurf). Not good! Panic button?

Me and smurf passed each other by 44 feet, probably even less.

One could say I was lucky as Smurf did had visual on me, BUT I don't want to experience that again!

O_O I can see where that would have increased the heartrate of certain members there! :pilot: