Fighter Combat

ONE-VERSUS-ONE MANEUVERING, SIMILAR AIRCRAFT 115conventional aircraft generate turn-performance capability by maintainingspeed within certain limits and by sacrificing altitude to gain a gravityassist, total energy (speed and altitude) must be considered in achieving aturn-performance advantage. Unless one fighter is able to generate a significantenergy advantage, the usual loss of energy during the engagementoften results in something resembling a slow-speed flat scissors or a stalematednose-to-tail turn at tree-top level.I never went into the air thinking I would lose.Commander Randy "Duke" Cunningham, USNThe Angles FightThe angles tactics outlined for the guns-only scenario are not as well suitedfor the RQ missiles case, but they maybe successful with minor modifications.Referring to Figure 3 -1, the angles fighter no longer has the threat of agun snapshot at time "4" to force the bogey up, out-of-plane, in a nose-highmove. This gives the bogey pilot freedom to continue a level or nose-lowturn, leaving the angles fighter temporarily in an offensive, rearhemisphereposition; but with an energy deficit, and probably a turnperformancedisadvantage, the pilot of the angles fighter may have adifficult time improving on or maintaining his position. In such a case, theangles tactician might perform a low yo-yo after the overshoot to continuepressure on the bogey.Faced with an overshooting situation at time "4," it is likely that thebogey will attempt to capitalize by reversing nose-high, as shown in Figure3-7. If so, the angles fighter pilot should pull sharply up to point at the^C*jjg'^^ R „Figure 3-7. Angles Fight (RQ Missiles): Mid-Game