Fighter Combat

ONE-VERSUS-ONE MANEUVERING, DISSIMILAR AIRCRAFT 181High versus Low T/W with Similar Wing LoadingIn this scenario the high-T/W fighter should have an acceleration andclimb-rate advantage as well as better sustained turn rate and faster topspeed. Instantaneous-turn capability, however, should be similar. Thepilot of a high-T/W fighter in this case can employ either angles or energytactics, but angles methods are probably preferable since they are quicker,less complex, and more offensive. The angles fighter pilot can be quiteaggressive in such a fight, since his T/W advantage offers insurance againstan opponent's possible energy tactics.If the high-T/W fighter pilot chooses the energy fight, climbing extension/pitch-backtactics are normally very effective, but other methodsshould also be useful. The energy fighter pilot can try to grab an initialangular advantage, then use lag pursuit and allow his sustained-turn superiorityto bleed the bogey's energy in nose-to-tail turns. Once the opponenthas neutralized the angular advantage, or gained a small one of his own, theenergy fighter pilot can begin vertical maneuvering. The initial verticalmove is generally a climbing spiral begun across the circle from the bogey.A wings-level vertical pull-up might also be workable, provided the bogeyis equipped with guns only. Otherwise the wide lateral separation at themoment of the pull-up may allow the bogey to pull its nose up, point, andshoot as the energy fighter nears the top of its zoom.Bleeding the bogey's energy by using offensive lag pursuit may takeseveral turns, since it is up to the low-T/W opponent in this case to decidehow fast he wishes to trade energy for angles. The bogey can prolong thisfight considerably by turning nose-low, trading altitude for turn rate whilemaintaining speed. In this case the energy fighter pilot generally shouldfollow the bogey down, maintaining a small altitude advantage, since theopponent can use the vertical separation for a zooming lead turn and asnapshot if the altitude differential is allowed to build too far. Likewise,diving on the bogey from a considerable height advantage tends to giveback any energy margin gained, and may result in a vertical overshoot anda rolling scissors. Since the lower bogey has maintained speed and now hasenergy equivalence, it may gain a temporary advantage in this maneuver.Therefore, it is preferable simply to follow the bogey down from slightlyabove until it reaches low altitude and is forced to begin trading speed forturn rate. Once the bogey has been bled to a slow speed it will be mucheasier to handle.A beautiful example of this process is found in an engagement betweenBaron Manfred von Richthofen (ten victories at the time) and the firstBritish ace, Major Lanoe Hawker (nine victories), on 23 November 1916.The German was flying an Albatros D-II against the British de HavillandDH-2. The fighters were roughly equivalent in turn performance, but theAlbatros had a significant climb and top-speed advantage. This is the wayvon Richthofen described the fight in his book The Red Air Fighter. (Nodissenting version is available!)The Englishman tried to catch me up in the rear while I tried to get behindhim. So we circled round and round like madmen after one another at analtitude of about 10,000 feet.