Fighter Combat

184 ONE-VERSUS-ONE MANEUVERING, DISSIMILAR AIRCRAFTfighter to hold the opponent off until he loses interest or is forced towithdraw for fuel considerations. The high-G descending nose-to-tail turnis ideal for this purpose. If the opponent is equipped with RQ missiles, thistactic may allow the pilot of the inferior fighter to hold the bogey just farenough off the tail to prevent a weapons firing while he unexpectedlyreduces power or uses speedbrakes to slow down and thereby generaterapid closure with the opponent. Then at the critical moment he can makea break turn toward the bogey to produce an overshoot. If the bogey pilotdoes not recognize this ploy soon enough and immediately quarter rollaway and pull up, the inferior fighter may be able to reverse for a cheapshot. If the bogey does pull up nearly vertically, the defender may have achance to unload and accelerate down and away, generating separation toprolong the fight, or even causing the bogey pilot to lose sight. When thebogey is gun equipped, the defender should expect a snapshot prior to theovershoot and be prepared to defeat it with a sharp, out-of-plane jink.Climbing extension/pitch-back tactics cannot be expected to work forthe inferior fighter in this scenario, since the opponent has a P s advantage.The other energy tactics discussed, which are intended to bleed the bogey'senergy with a nose-to-tail turn (or nose-to-nose in the case of a very smallbogey or one equipped with all-aspect missiles), can still be effectiveagainst an inexperienced or a careless opponent.The following episode, found in Thunderbolt! by the World War IIUSAAF ace Robert S. Johnson, is one of the best examples available of theuse of energy tactics (diving extension/pitch-back) to defeat a doublesuperioropponent. The encounter described is a mock combat engagementover England between Johnson (P-47C) and an unidentified RAF pilotin a new Spitfire IX. The Spitfire had about a 25 percent better powerloading and nearly a 25 percent lower wing loading. The Thunderbolt'sonly performance advantages were faster top speed, greater acceleration ina dive (because of the P-47's heavier weight and higher density), and betterroll performance. (See the Appendix for a discussion of roll and accelerationperformance.) Johnson, undoubtedly one of the greatest naturalfighter pilots of all time, used his roll performance defensively to allowhimself the chance to build an energy advantage in a diving extension.We flew together in formation, and then I decided to see just what thisairplane had to its credit.I opened the throttle full and the Thunderbolt forged ahead. A momentlater exhaust smoke poured from the Spit as the pilot came after me. Hecouldn't make it; the big Jug had a definite speed advantage. I grinnedhappily; I'd heard so much about this airplane that I really wanted to show offthe Thunderbolt to her pilot. The Jug kept pulling away from the Spitfire;suddenly I hauled back on the stick and lifted the nose. The Thunderboltzoomed upward, soaring into the cloud-flecked sky. I looked out and back;the Spit was straining to match me, and barely able to hold his position.But my advantage was only the zoom—once in steady climb, he had me. Igaped as smoke poured from the exhausts and the Spitfire shot past me as ifI were standing still. Could that plane climb! He tore upward in a climb Icouldn't match in the Jug. Now it was his turn; the broad elliptical wingsrolled, swung around, and the Spit screamed in, hell-bent on chewing me up.