Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering

ONE-VERSUS-ONE MANEUVERING, SIMILAR AIRCRAFT 109
factor in each situation, nose-to-nose dynamics result in its gaining a given
angular advantage in about half the time required for it to do so by
nose-to-tail turns. Obviously, less time spent at high G means less energy
bleed and less speed differential when the pilot of the energy fighter
decides to zoom.
The greater time involved in use of the nose-to-tail method raises other
points. More time spent in this predictable maneuver subjects both
fighters to more danger in a hostile environment. Combat endurance is
also a factor. Neither fighter may have the fuel necessary to gain a substantial
advantage with nose-to-tail turns. Maintaining visual contact with the
opponent, however, is the most important consideration here. If this
cannot be done comfortably during a nose-to-tail turn, the energy tactician
may be forced to the nose-to-nose technique, and he will just have to
accept the inefficiencies involved.
Although a level turn has been specified for this portion of the energy
fight, this is certainly not a requirement. In fact, there are some valuable
advantages to slightly oblique diving or climbing turns, particularly in the
nose-to-tail case. For instance, a diving spiral may allow the energy fighter
to maintain speed while pulling its maximum structural-G limit. Since he
cannot safely pull higher load factor in a similar aircraft, the bogey pilot
can gain angles in a nose-to-tail turn only at a limited rate. If the energy
fighter stays near corner speed, the opponent may be completely stalemated
as long as altitude allows the descending spiral to continue. This
technique can be very valuable, particularly when the energy fighter pilot
finds himself at an initial position disadvantage. The bogey might be held
outside firing parameters in this manner until its pilot loses interest or
runs out of fuel and is forced to disengage. Such a stalemated nose-to-tail
turn has come to be called a "Lufbery," after the American ace Raoul
Lufbery, who fought with the French Lafayette Escadrille and the U.S. Air
Service during World War I.
Although the nose-low method slows the rate of angular gain for the
bogey in both nose-to-nose and nose-to-tail situations, a tradeoff is involved.
Because of the energy fighter's higher G, the bogey is likely to pull
less excess G during the maneuver, resulting in more efficient angular
gains. This can mean less speed differential between the fighters when the
energy fighter zooms.
The opposite is true, however, for nose-high turns. An energy fighter in a
climbing turn must pull less G if it is to maintain a given airspeed. This
leaves the opponent more G margin to play with, and he typically will use
it to gain angles at a faster rate, bleeding relatively more energy in the
process. A nose-high spiral tends to reduce the time necessary to bleed the
bogey's energy by a desired amount in a nose-to-tail turn. This is seldom a
requirement with nose-to-nose turns, however, and use of the nose-high
technique in a nose-to-nose situation may allow the bogey to grab a lethal
position advantage before the energy fighter pilot realizes it.
For the energy fight, of equal importance with reducing required engagement
time is limiting the number of nose-to-tail turns necessary to bleed
the bogey's energy by the desired amount. For example, if in a level or