Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering

ONE-VERSUS-ONE MANEUVERING, DISSIMILAR AIRCRAFT 143
nearly equal in energy to the high-T/W fighter at the beginning of the fight.
Since the low-wing-loaded fighter is likely to have lower maximum speed
capability, some height advantage is desirable at the pass to help ensure
energy parity. Practical considerations such as visibility and weaponssystem
performance, however, may prevent use of this technique.
Another consideration is the performance superiority of the low-wingloaded
fighter at slow speeds. For example, its best climb speed, best
sustained-turn speeds, and minimum vertical-maneuvering speed all are
probably lower than those of its high-wing-loaded adversary. This slowspeed
efficiency improves relative performance in nose-to-nose turn situations.
The angles fighter also may have some sustained-turn-rate advantage,
which would enable it to make angular gains in nose-to-tail turns
with little relative energy sacrifice, but this process would be very slow
and is definitely inferior to the nose-to-nose technique.
On individual combat tactics, aggressiveness is the keynote of success.
. . . The enemy on the defensive gives you the advantage, as he is trying to
evade you, and not to shoot you down.
Major Thomas B. "Tommy" McGuire, USAAF
In approaching the initial pass, the angles fighter should attempt to
generate some flight-path separation for a lead turn, as shown in Figure 3-1.
Turn-performance superiority should provide the low-wing-loaded fighter
with some angular advantage at the pass. If the bogey continues straight
ahead or turns away from the attack to set up a nose-to-nose condition, the
angles fighter should continue in the original turn direction. Should the
bogey turn toward the attack, however, a turn reversal is called for, as
depicted in Figure 3-1. Since the pilot of the low-wing-loaded fighter does
not have to optimize his turn performance to gain an advantage on the
opponent, best sustained-turn-rate speed, rather than corner velocity, is
normally the best engagement airspeed. Because energy is so critical for
this fighter, the pilot should maneuver only as hard as necessary. Quite
often small angular gains can be made in nose-to-nose situations simply by
using level sustained turns.
This should be an initial attack which on the surface is very forceful and fast,
but which leaves you some reserve. Do not spend all your energy on your first
attack.
Miyamoto Musashi
The rest of the angles-fight sequence shown in Figures 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3,
and the discussion of these figures, applies here, as well. The high-T/W
fighter may, however, achieve higher zoom-altitude advantage, preventing
the angles fighter from threatening a gun shot at time "5" of Figure 3-2. In
this case the tactic of hiding beneath the bogey, as shown in Figure 3-7,
may be useful. Instantaneous turn performance should give the pilot of the
angles fighter a sweeter snapshot, or even a tracking shot in the end-game
(Figure 3-3).
If the shot is missed, the bogey can usually dive away and escape even
easier than it could in the similar-aircraft case, since it now has higher