FLIGHT TRAINING INSTRUCTION T-45 WEAPONS/STRIKE - Cnatra

CHAPTER EIGHT T-45 WEAPONS/STRIKE
The Importance of Setting the Correct TPA
Figure 8-34 With Crosswind (Release Altitude)
The T-45C MANUAL delivery mode offers us the capability to better understand the importance
of setting the proper Target Placement Angle at the checkpoint altitude. To help us better
understand this concept, we revert to the Manual Pipper Tracking “Rules of Thumb” used
exclusively in the iron sights of aircraft past.
The Manual Pipper “Rules of Thumb” of Straight Path Tracking state:
1. At 3 times the release altitude, the pipper should be 2/3 of the sight angle short of the
aimpoint.
2. At 2 times the release altitude, the pipper should be 1/2 of the sight angle short of the
aimpoint.
3. At 1.5 times the release altitude, the pipper should be 1/3 of the sight angle short of the
aimpoint.
Our checkpoint altitudes on our Z Diagrams are based on Rule #3. Now let’s look at the
checkpoint altitude sight picture for our 30 degree dive, for example.
1.5 times our release altitude is 4,500’ agl. 1/3 of our sight angle (128) is 42 mils.
8-34 DELIVERY PROCEDURES AND TRACKING TECHNIQUES