Fighter Combat

ONE-VERSUS-ONE MANEUVERING, SIMILAR AIRCRAFT 101head-on, the maximum separation that will result from a subsequentimmediate nose-to-nose turn is about one turn diameter. As pointed out inthe last chapter, at this range turn radius is the primary factor in gaining anangular advantage. Turn radius is minimized, as a rule, by pulling max-Gat or below corner speed. Most fighters, however, will decelerate rapidlyduring such a maneuver, causing the angles fighter to lose excessive energybefore a similar opponent can be dispatched with a rear-hemisphereweapon. Allowing the opponent too great an energy advantage can spell bigtrouble (this is discussed later in this chapter).One answer to this dilemma is to turn nose-low, trading altitude forangles, rather than bleeding excessive airspeed. Figure 3-1 shows how thismight work. At time "1" the two fighters approach head-on at roughlyequal altitude and speed. Since energy nearly always seems to be a veryprecious and hard-to-get commodity during an engagement, both pilotsshould be trying to grab all they can at this point. The angles tactician hasset his best energy-rate climb speed, and he is climbing with full power atthat speed to gain energy (altitude) as quickly as possible. (See the discussionof climb performance in the Appendix.) Since the angles tacticianwould like to engage at corner speed, however, and he is currently faster, hestarts a zoom climb at time "1." This zoom reduces airspeed withoutincurring a loss of total energy, and it also generates vertical flight-pathseparation, which will be useful for a lead turn.This zoom-climb tactic is appropriate for most jet fighters at medium tolow altitudes, since best climb speed normally exceeds corner speed underthese conditions. Prop fighters and subsonic jets at high altitudes, how-Figure 3-1. Guns-Only Angles Fight: First Phase