Fighter Combat

22 FIGHTER WEAPONSThe predictor LCOS is little better than a fixed sight in this environment,though it may provide gravity, jump, and other minor corrections.Its major advantage, as long as the shooter's maneuver is fairly constant forthe settling time of the sight, is an accurate indication of the plane of thebullet stream (left/right reference relative to the shooter's windscreen),which must be estimated with the fixed sight. Because relative motionremains between the target and the pipper, however, lead correction (up/down relative to the shooter's windscreen) is usually inaccurate and muststill be estimated. Computed lead is generally less than that required, by anamount that is proportional to the apparent LOS rate. For a reasonablechance of success with this type of sight, the shooter must get into thetarget's plane of turn early and establish considerable excess lead; stabilizehis maneuver until the sight settles down; make small, smooth correctionsto place the pipper on the target's flight path; and open fire wellbefore the target reaches the pipper.The historical type of LCOS is optimized for the snapshot, but it is notwithout problems. It is designed to show the location of bullets fired oneTOP in the past, so theoretically its lead projection is accurate as long asbullets were indeed in the air one TOP previously. Settling time is generallynot a problem with this sight since it is normally quite short and,except at very close range, usually expires before bullet TOP, eliminatingits effect on the pipper display. These characteristics require only that theshooter somehow get the target and pipper to converge, and that he openfire at least one bullet TOF prior to convergence. Although theoreticallythis can be accomplished in any maneuver plane and with high LOS rates,hit and kill probability are still enhanced by low LOS rates and in-planemaneuvering.A good fighter pilot, like a good boxer, should have a knockout punch— Youwill find one attack you prefer to all others. Work on it till you can do it toperfection . . . then use it whenever possible.Group Captain Reade Tilley, RAF7 Victories, WW-IIAir-to-air gunnery is one of the most difficult skills a fighter pilot canmaster. Regardless of the type of sight, consistent accuracy depends ontotal, intense concentration on the target. Whether attempting a trackingor a snapshot pass, the shooter must make minute, smooth aiming correctionswhile approaching the firing position. Usually such fine control canbe achieved best with conventional controls by holding the stick firmly(but not squeezing out black juice) with both hands, resting the forearms orelbows on the knees or upper legs, and applying corrections with slightvariations in finger and wrist pressure. Some positive back-pressure on thecontrols usually helps, but in very high-G situations the shooter may preferto trim out excessive pressure to reduce fatigue. The aircraft should beflown as close to balanced flight as possible, since most sights do notcorrect for bullet curvature caused by the "Magnus effect" that resultsfrom a yaw angle. (This is the phenomenon that allows baseball pitchers tothrow curves.) For ammunition conservation, short bursts (about one