“Two’s In”

There’s a radio call that every formation pilot knows: “Two’s in.” It’s short, sharp, and it carries the weight of absolute commitment. When you call it, you’re locked in tight beside the lead aircraft, trusting their every move. From that moment on, your job is not to sightsee, not to glance at the instruments, not to check your surroundings. Your world becomes the lead aircraft and staying with them.

In formation flying, you don’t look where you are going. You only look at who you are going with. You are trained to hold position, to fly smoothly, to anticipate, to trust and rely on the lead to take you there safely. They could fly you into a hill, and you wouldn’t know it until it was too late. That’s how deep the trust runs. Because formation flying isn’t about independence, it’s about interdependence. Discipline. Predictability. Trust.

And really when you think about it, that’s not so different from life.

There are times where we lead, scanning the horizon, calling the turns, setting the pace. But there are also times where we fall into position, tighten up, and say, “Two’s in.” When we hand over the reins, not out of weakness, but out of trust. Trust that someone else has the map. That they’ve got the experience. That they’ll keep us clear of the mountains, even when we can’t see them ourselves.

It’s not blind obedience. It’s practiced faith. Faith in your team, faith in your tribe, faith in the people who’ve earned your trust through consistency and calm.

Flying tight formation isn’t reckless. It’s deliberate. Every pilot knows their role, their reference points, and how to respond if things go sideways. But at the heart of it all is the unspoken understanding: I’ve got you. And you’ve got me.

Sometimes, life demands that we stop trying to be the lead and instead become the best damn wingman we can be. Or, when the moment calls for it, we lock eyes on the lead and whisper to ourselves with full conviction:

“Two’s in.”

Fly safe. Trust deeply. Lead with integrity. And when it’s your turn to follow, do it with courage.

#flylikagirl #l39pilot #formationpilot #twosin #courage #conviction #leadership