Fighter Combat

ONE-VERSUS-ONE MANEUVERING, DISSIMILAR AIRCRAFT 191path separation and lead-turn the bogey, as recommended for the anglesfighter in previous scenarios. Because of the helo's very tight turn radius,even minimal lateral separation can be converted to large angular gains atthe pass. If the bogey continues straight or pulls up after the pass, the helodriver can continue to pull the nose around for a shot before the targetextends out of range. Should a shot at this point be unsuccessful, and thebogey exceeds max-range, the helo pilot might think of making a break forsome protected area or hiding place. If such a safe haven is not available, orif the helo driver begins to like playing fighter pilot, he may choose topursue the bogey, wait for it to turn around, and repeat the head-on passtactics. Unless the helo pilot has considerable air-to-air experience,however, this is probably a mistake.If the bogey pulls sharply vertical at the pass and the helo pilot cannotmake a shot, he should follow the attacker at low altitude and attempt toget beneath the bogey as it completes the vertical maneuver. This ploymakes a second attack by the bogey more difficult, since it would necessitatea steep dive angle. Pilots usually will avoid steep dives at low altitudefor fear of misjudging the pull-out and hitting the ground. As the bogeyapproaches overhead, the helo can pull up in an oblique climbing turnbeneath the attacker for a look-up, RQ weapons firing, or it can at leasthide beneath the opponent, forcing him to turn hard to regain sight.Returning to the first pass for a moment, if the fixed-wing bogey turnshard toward the helo, taking out most of the lateral separation and preventingan effective lead turn, the helo might have trouble turning around fastenough to get a shot. If this happens, the helo can continue the classicangles tactics illustrated by Figure 3-1 ; that is, reverse nose-to-nose. In thiscase, however, there is such a large disparity in speed and turn radius that asimple reversal and a level nose-to-nose turn should quickly place the heloinside the opponent's flight path, making it impossible for the pilot of thefixed-wing fighter to get his nose pointed at the helo for another attack.The helo pilot should continue the turn for at least 90°, then straightenout or reverse into a gradual lead turn, maintaining 20°-30° of lead on thebogey. Care should be taken not to turn so hard in the lead turn that thehelo flies out in front of the bogey. This situation can be anticipated bywatching the bogey's drift against the far horizon, and ensuring that thisapparent motion is always forward. Ultimately, if the bogey continues itsturn, the helo pilot can play his lead turn to arrive at a close-range gunfiringposition or within RQ missile parameters. An all-aspect-missilefiringopportunity may be available soon after completion of thenose-to-nose turn, provided min-range parameters can be met.Now for the other side of this coin. How does a fixed-wing fighter attacka helo? It has been shown that a helo can be a very difficult opponent, butthe fixed-wing fighter does have some advantages that can be exploited.For one thing, odds are the helo driver has very little air-to-air experience,so he may not be as serious a threat as the foregoing discussion mightsuggest. Still, caution and deviousness form the best policy.First there is the matter of what weapons to use, given the fighter pilothas a choice. The gun can be very effective against helos, particularly when