Fighter Combat

76 BASIC FIGHTER MANEUVERSThe potential danger of an overshoot situation is dependent on manyfactors, including range, relative turn performance, TCA, and relativespeeds. In general, the greatest danger exists for the attacker when overshootsresult at close range and low TCAs against a slower bogey with atighter turn radius, as in Figure 2-4. Against a slower or tighter-turningopponent, the attacker should use caution in employment of the lead turn.The earlier a lead turn is started, assuming the attacker passes behindthe defender, the closer the resulting range and the smaller the TCA atovershoot; both of these conditions can increase the attacker's risk. If theattacker is at a slower speed or has a smaller turn radius, the overshoot riskis reduced and the lead turn may be begun sooner, resulting in greateroffensive advantage.A further consideration in lead turns is a factor called flight-path separation.As shown in Figure 2-9, this is the perpendicular distance from theattacker to the extended flight path of the defender at any moment. In bothcases depicted in this figure, the attacker and the defender are co-speed andapproaching on opposite courses with each fighter having the same flightpathseparation relative to its opponent. In case 1, the attacker's turnradius (R A ) is approximately half the flight-path separation, while in case 2the attacker's turn radius is doubled, about equalling the flight-pathseparation. In each case the attacker begins a lead turn (time "1") againstthe nonmaneuvering defender so as to arrive on his flight path withidentical nose-tail separation (time "2"). Note that in case 1 the attackerachieves about a 180° angular advantage, while in case 2 (larger turn radius)he gains only about a 90° advantage. In general, the potential angularadvantage of a lead turn against a nonmaneuvering opponent is proportionalto the ratio of flight-path separation to attacker turn radius when theturn is commenced. The effect of greater attacker turn rate is to allow thelead turn to be started at closer range, while the attacker still achievesmaximum angular advantage. This allows less time for the opponent'sdefensive counter, which usually involves turning toward the attacker toreduce flight-path separation.Because of these principles, fighters with tight turn radii stand to benefitmost from a given flight-path separation. It therefore behooves lessmaneuverablefighters to reduce flight-path separation to a minimum byattempting to pass as closely as possible to an opponent in forward-quarterFigure 2-9. Effects of Flight-Path Separation