The next step in that was where the Italian Air Force team found themselves in 1988. They weren’t being reckless, but were executing a maneuver that had very little room for error, and no room to make up for timing inaccuracies once everyone was committed downhill. Escape had to be made early, or it wasn’t going to happen. Unfortunately, the crossing jet didn’t make the escape, instead trying to salvage the timing inaccuracy and starting the ensuing disaster.
