As I said before you have to create Afcad for each AI aircraft. Mine look like that:
EGP1
View attachment 88387
EGP2
View attachment 88388
EGP3
View attachment 88389
EGP4
View attachment 88390
The distance from parking to runway should be approximatively the same for all AI in order to have them taking off together. Important is to put a parking code for each AI, otherwise they would park somewhere and need therefore more time for taxiing.
Even it's payware, the best tool for creating Afcad's - especially such like above - is AFX from Flight1. It has an interface connecting to FS9, and you get what you see. It's really worth of money.
Next step would be to edit the aircraft.cfg file of the chosen AI. Here my example:
[fltsim.0]
title=Spitfire MkIXe
Formation 1
sim=prspit9e
model=
panel=
sound=
texture=
KB_checklists=
atc_airline=Royal air Force
ui_manufacturer=airshow
ui_type=Spitfire
ui_variation=Mrk IXe
description= RAF Spitfire
atc_parking_codes=
SP1
The lines "title" and "atc_parking_codes" have to be modified for each further AI.
Then you have edit a traffic.bgl with TTools - in my opinion by far the simplest way. Here again my files:
Aircraft.txt:
AC#1,200,"Spitfire MkIXe Formation 1"
AC#2,200,"Spitfire MkIXe Formation 2"
AC#3,200,"Spitfire MkIXe Formation 3"
AC#4,200,"Spitfire MkIXe Formation 4"
Airport.txt:
EGP1,N50* 16.16',W5* 15.83',256
EGP2,N50* 16.16',W5* 15.83',256
EGP3,N50* 16.16',W5* 15.83',256
EGP4,N50* 16.16',W5* 15.83',256
FlightPlans.txt:
AC#1,SPITF,21%,2Hr,VFR,00:00:00,00:15:00,040,R,0000,EGP1,00:17:00,00:32:00,040,R,0000,EGP1
AC#2,SPITF,21%,2Hr,VFR,00:00:00,00:15:00,040,R,0000,EGP2,00:17:00,00:32:00,040,R,0000,EGP2
AC#3,SPITF,21%,2Hr,VFR,00:00:00,00:15:00,040,R,0000,EGP3,00:17:00,00:32:00,040,R,0000,EGP3
AC#4,SPITF,21%,2Hr,VFR,00:00:00,00:15:00,040,R,0000,EGP4,00:17:00,00:32:00,040,R,0000,EGP4
I extended AC and FP to twelve planes. Afcad could get even more.
BTW, if you want to try a ready formation flight, here is one: AI Thunderbirds Flight Demo at Flightsim includes AI formation flights. I just replaced the F-16's by F-100 Thunderbirds.
View attachment 88391
Cheers,
Bernard