Fighter Combat

ONE-VERSUS-ONE MANEUVERING, DISSIMILAR AIRCRAFT 143nearly equal in energy to the high-T/W fighter at the beginning of the fight.Since the low-wing-loaded fighter is likely to have lower maximum speedcapability, some height advantage is desirable at the pass to help ensureenergy parity. Practical considerations such as visibility and weaponssystemperformance, however, may prevent use of this technique.Another consideration is the performance superiority of the low-wingloadedfighter at slow speeds. For example, its best climb speed, bestsustained-turn speeds, and minimum vertical-maneuvering speed all areprobably lower than those of its high-wing-loaded adversary. This slowspeedefficiency improves relative performance in nose-to-nose turn situations.The angles fighter also may have some sustained-turn-rate advantage,which would enable it to make angular gains in nose-to-tail turnswith little relative energy sacrifice, but this process would be very slowand is definitely inferior to the nose-to-nose technique.On individual combat tactics, aggressiveness is the keynote of success.. . . The enemy on the defensive gives you the advantage, as he is trying toevade you, and not to shoot you down.Major Thomas B. "Tommy" McGuire, USAAFIn approaching the initial pass, the angles fighter should attempt togenerate some flight-path separation for a lead turn, as shown in Figure 3-1.Turn-performance superiority should provide the low-wing-loaded fighterwith some angular advantage at the pass. If the bogey continues straightahead or turns away from the attack to set up a nose-to-nose condition, theangles fighter should continue in the original turn direction. Should thebogey turn toward the attack, however, a turn reversal is called for, asdepicted in Figure 3-1. Since the pilot of the low-wing-loaded fighter doesnot have to optimize his turn performance to gain an advantage on theopponent, best sustained-turn-rate speed, rather than corner velocity, isnormally the best engagement airspeed. Because energy is so critical forthis fighter, the pilot should maneuver only as hard as necessary. Quiteoften small angular gains can be made in nose-to-nose situations simply byusing level sustained turns.This should be an initial attack which on the surface is very forceful and fast,but which leaves you some reserve. Do not spend all your energy on your firstattack.Miyamoto MusashiThe rest of the angles-fight sequence shown in Figures 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3,and the discussion of these figures, applies here, as well. The high-T/Wfighter may, however, achieve higher zoom-altitude advantage, preventingthe angles fighter from threatening a gun shot at time "5" of Figure 3-2. Inthis case the tactic of hiding beneath the bogey, as shown in Figure 3-7,may be useful. Instantaneous turn performance should give the pilot of theangles fighter a sweeter snapshot, or even a tracking shot in the end-game(Figure 3-3).If the shot is missed, the bogey can usually dive away and escape eveneasier than it could in the similar-aircraft case, since it now has higher