NMAC.

Narrative

THIS RPTR WAS LEADER OF A FLT OF 3 SINGLE SEAT EXPERIMENTAL ACFT DEPARTING HOME BASE (PRC) ENRTE TO A LCL PRACTICE AREA FOR FORMATION AIR WORK AND PROFICIENCY TRAINING. THIS TYPE OF MISSION IS FREQUENTLY FLOWN BY THESE PARTICULAR PLTS/ACFT. MISSIONS ARE PRE-BRIEFED AND FLOWN IN ACCORDANCE WITH VERBAL FLT LEADER'S BRIEFING AS WELL AS EXISTING WRITTEN SOP. AFTER LEAVING PRC TWR FREQ THE DIVISION WAS SWITCHED TO AIR TO AIR COM (122.75). THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED AT APPROX 5 NM FROM PRC OUTBOUND. THE FLT LEADER (ME) THEN COMMENCED A CLB WITH THE DIVISION IN FREE CRUISE FORMATION. THE WINGMEN (1 ON EACH SIDE OF LEAD) STAYED FAIRLY CLOSE TO THE LEAD; HOWEVER. VERY SHORTLY AFTER THIS RADIO SWITCH; I LOOKED TO THE 10 O'CLOCK LEVEL AND SAW A BLUE ON WHITE HIGH WING CESSNA TYPE ACFT CLOSING FAST WHICH ALMOST IMMEDIATELY PASSED BENEATH THE FORMATION FROM 10 O'CLOCK TO 4 O'CLOCK. VERT CLRNC WAS ESTIMATED 100 FT OR LESS. I DON'T KNOW IF THE CESSNA PLT(S) EVER SAW THE FORMATION OR NOT. THE AIRSPACE AT AND AROUND PRC IS A BUSY; NON-RADAR; SEE AND BE SEEN ENVIRONMENT REQUIRING EXTREMELY DISCIPLINED LOOKOUT DOCTRINE AND THIS RPTR WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH HOW QUICKLY A NEAR MISS SIT CAN DEVELOP! I BELIEVE FUTURE FLTS OF THIS TYPE SHOULD ASSUME FREE CRUISE FORMATION WITH LOOSE INTERVAL AS SOON AS PRACTICAL AFTER TKOF WITH ALL PLTS BRIEFED TO BE EXTREMELY VIGILANT FOR TFC CONFLICTS. IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE; ONLY 1 OF THE 2 WINGMEN SAW THE TFC 'BOGEY' AT ALL; AND THAT ONLY AT THE LAST MOMENT PRIOR TO THE PASS.