When leaving for a mission, the aircraft in a group would line up along the runway, taxi into position, and take off at approximately 30 second intervals. In the air they circled and climbed and began to take up their pre-assigned respective positions in the group formation. During this process they followed a *"Judas Goat" or Formation Plane. Once the group was formed, the actual lead plane for the mission would take its place. Formation planes were usually older aircraft that were no longer considered suitable to fly actual missions. They were painted bright and garish color schemes for easy visibility.