Fighter Combat

TACTICAL INTERCEPTS 375of fighters in defensive formations should be such that each pilot cancomfortably keep sight of his wingmen and their vulnerable areas. If awingman is too far away or is arranged high in the sun, maintaining visualcontact can take too great a percentage of the pilot's available scanningtime, detracting from his lookout. When a high, bright sun is a significantfactor, the highest element of a defensive formation should normally bepositioned down-sun (i.e., on the side of the formation away from the sun).The pilot's flight equipment and the aircraft design and maintenanceare also important factors. A pilot's flight clothing should be as lightweightand nonrestricting as possible so that movement in the cockpit is nothindered. It is often necessary to turn almost completely around in the seatin either direction to look directly behind, no easy task in a full pressuresuit. Restraining straps must also be designed and adjusted to allow thisfreedom of movement.The Japanese early in World War II considered this cockpit freedom soimportant that their fighter pilots generally did not even wear parachutes.Another factor in this personal decision was the fact that they generallyfought over enemy territory, and their code of Bushido (the Samurai code)did not permit them to be captured. This policy was self-defeating, however,since, in combination with the general lack of armor protection andself-sealing fuel tanks, it led to high attrition of experienced pilots andcaused great problems for the Japanese later in the war.Flight controls should be designed for use by either hand, so the pilot canrotate his body completely in either direction and still fly the airplane. Thehelmet is one of the pilot's most critical flight-gear items. It must be aslightweight as possible, otherwise it can get pretty unwieldy and be hardon the neck under 9 Gs. Neither should it restrict the pilot's vision. Thismeans no part of the helmet should be visible to the pilot wearing it. Itmust also be fitted and secured so that it doesn't rotate out of place underhigh G or with pilot movement. The helmet should be fitted with a darkvisor that can be quickly flipped into position if it becomes necessary forthe pilot to follow a bogey very near the sun. In general, however, visorsshould not be used in combat, since anything between the pilot's eyes andthe bogey, even a "clear" visor, degrades vision to some extent. Dark visorsFigure 10-17. Double Pincer or Double Option