Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering

One-versus-One
Maneuvering,
Dissimilar Aircraft
Dissimilar fighters are fighters that have some performance characteristics
which differ from those of the opponent by more than about 10
percent. The performance measures of most interest are turn performance
(both instantaneous and sustained) and energy performance (climb, acceleration,
and speed). Of course there are many other ways in which fighters
may differ (e.g., roll and pitch performance, size, pilot visibility limits,
combat endurance, and radar capabilities). The influence of some of these
factors is also discussed when appropriate.
As explained in the Appendix, instantaneous turn performance is determined
primarily by the ratio of aerodynamic lift to aircraft weight at low
speeds (i.e., below corner velocity) and by the ratio of structural strength to
aircraft weight at high speeds. Except in cases of extreme disparity in
structural strength between fighters (i.e., on the order of a 50 percent
advantage in maximum structural G for one aircraft), this limit is not
usually as important in air combat as the aerodynamic limit. When a
fighter pilot finds himself in a serious defensive situation, and to some
extent when he is very near a lethal offensive position, he will use whatever
G is required to save himself or to get the shot. A few popped rivets or
some wrinkled skin is a small price to pay for the pilot's life or for a downed
enemy aircraft. Since World War I there have been very few instances when
a pilot has actually pulled the wings off his own fighter. Limits of structural
strength must be adhered to in peacetime, however, since overstresses
result in additional maintenance time, expense, and lost training.
Therefore, ways must be found of winning within the design limits of the
aircraft.
The relative low-speed instantaneous-turn-performance capabilities of
two fighters can be determined by comparing their velocity-load factor
(V-n) diagrams (see the Appendix). The aircraft with the greatest usable G
capability at a given speed has superior instantaneous turn performance
(i.e., faster turn rate and smaller radius) at that speed. This G capability