Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering

BASIC FIGHTER MANEUVERS 91
attacker) will use the same tactics as before—that is, continuously pulling
toward the defender. But this time, rather than rolling toward the attacker
between times "2" and "3," the defender continues to pull straight up into
the vertical. Once vertical, this fighter rolls quickly, placing its lift vector
ahead of the attacker's position (lead pursuit), just as shown in Figure 2-19.
Unlike the example in Figure 2-19, however, the opponent (i.e., the attacker)
here is not restricted to horizontal maneuvering, and so he pulls up
obliquely toward the high fighter, reducing the flight-path separation
generated by the vertical maneuver of the defender.
The direction chosen by the defender to stop his roll at time "3" is
calculated so that the inverted, wings-level pull-down will place him at
point "4," the peak of the maneuver, with his nose aimed at a point almost
directly above the bogey's predicted position at that time. Again returning
to Figure 2-19, this situation is analogous to time "3" in that example. The
horizontal depictions (i.e., top views) of both these examples show that
each is essentially a nose-to-nose maneuver to this point. The high
fighter's vertical move has created vertical separation, and pointing its
nose directly at the opponent (as viewed from above) as quickly as possible
has maximized its angular advantage. The next phase of the high fighter's
maneuver will be designed to take advantage of its separation, by use of
nose-to-tail geometry and a gravity assist, and to convert to the greatest
position advantage.
In Figure 2-21, the F-5E passes directly over the MiG at time "4" and
pulls down vertically into the MiG's rear hemisphere. This maneuver
causes the MiG pilot to reverse his turn, rolling to the left in order to keep
his lift vector on the high fighter and also to help maintain sight. These
requirements deny him the opportunity to go purely vertical, and he is
forced to keep his flight path in an oblique plane, which increases his
forward speed across the ground relative to that of his opponent.
The important thing in [tactics] is to suppress the enemy's useful actions but
allow his useless actions. However, doing this alone is defensive.
Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645)
Japanese Samurai and Philosopher
More Than 60 Victories in Hand-to-Hand Combat
By selecting a lead roll at time "3" and maintaining a constant maneuver
plane until time "5," the high fighter has in effect "averaged out" the
opponent's position during that time. Lead pursuit is being employed
during the first half of the inverted pull-down, and lag pursuit results
during the last half, which has nearly the same effect as pure pursuit (i.e.,
keeping the lift vector on the bogey) throughout the pull-down. This
technique maximizes the angular gain as well as the energy efficiency of
the high fighter.
Approaching position "5," the F-5E pilot determines that insufficient
separation has been generated to avoid an overshoot. Therefore, in a purely
vertical dive, he performs another lead roll and pulls wings-level through
the bottom of his maneuver, passing as closely as possible behind the
bogey. This portion of the maneuver is analogous to the reversal and