formate

plural formates

1. chemistryAny salt or ester of formic acid.

   But most likely my judgement was distorted by my contempt for his acting the young buck [...] for ever waxing his moustaches and loading himself with medicaments supposed to replace the failing sap of youth, glycerophosphates, formates, nux vomica, yohimba, damiana.

   1963, Xavier Herbert, Distubing Element, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 178

   Synonyms: methanoate

present singular third person formates · participle present formating · participle past formated · past formated

1. aeronauticsTo assemble flying aircraft into formation; to fly in formation.

   Tiger Moths from the Reserve Flying Schools at Rochester and Cambridge competed with each other at formating in the gusty conditions, Rochester just winning.

   1949, The Aeroplane, volume 76, page 699

   2 more examples

   Formating with Patty Wagstaff' s modified Baron, flown by Dale Snodgrass, was fun on a beautiful morning, though all you learn about an airplane while formating is the power response (very smooth) and the response to control pressures.

   2002 July, Richard L. Collins, “Piper Seneca V: a classic light twin..”, in Flying, page 68

   Actually, the leader of the formation was supposed to maintain the eagle-eyed vigil necessary to ensure that his formation kept out of harm's way, because the pilots formating on him had to keep all their attention riveted on his aircraft; but the Air Force recognized that with inexperienced pilots leading formations it was wise to splash extra lookouts around liberally.

   2003, Murray Peden, A Thousand Shall Fall: The True Story of a Canadian Bomber Pilot in World War Two, page 74