User:PottedPlanWP/sandbox

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning IIs with green formation lights turned on

A formation light, also known as a slime light, is a type of thin film electroluminescent light that assists aircraft flying in formation in low visibility environments.

Formation lights were studied in March 1955 by the Wright Air Development Center.

While navigation lights had previously been implemented on aircraft, The center sought to improve on aircraft visibility after a series of collisions. The navigation lights were found to be inadequate. The study tested point lights, floodlights, and linear lights, which were "enthusiastically supported" by test pilots.

See also

• Navigation light
• Landing lights