Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering

ONE-VERSUS-ONE MANEUVERING, DISSIMILAR AIRCRAFT 165
advantage steadily while inducing the bogey to bleed its energy with hard
defensive maneuvering. If the pilot of a high-wing-loaded bogey allows this
process to continue for too long, the patient angles fighter pilot should
eventually reach a lethal missile-firing position unless the opponent
makes skillful and timely use of the vertical or exits the fight. Because of
its much greater range the missile can create serious limitations for the
energy fighter in both vertical maneuvering and disengagement.
As an example, consider the scenario depicted in Figure 4-4, where the
energy fighter zooms on the first pass. When his aircraft is equipped with a
missile, the pilot of the angles fighter can be much less hesitant to zoom
with his opponent. He can pull up behind the bogey and fire before the
energy fighter ever reaches the top of its zoom. Just the threat of such a shot
usually will cause the bogey pilot to pull too quickly over the top of his
maneuver in order to increase AOT before the missile can be fired. Without
even firing a missile the pilot of the angles fighter can bleed the bogey's
energy and reduce its zoom altitude, forcing it back down for a lead turn.
Even if the bogey succeeds in generating AOT in excess of nominal
missile-firing parameters, a weapon that has adequate guidance information
(usually the target's exhaust heat) still may be successful, since the
target will be slow and unable to maneuver effectively in defense.
One probable ploy a high-T/W bogey may use involves climbing toward
the sun. By placing his aircraft between the sun and the angles fighter, the
bogey pilot may be able to avoid a hostile heat-seeking missile shot, since
such a weapon most likely would be decoyed by the sun's heat. It can also
become very difficult to keep sight of the opponent when a pilot is forced to
look very near the sun. A dark-colored helmet visor is useful in these
situations, especially one that can be flipped down into position at critical
moments and removed quickly from view when not needed. Generally
visors (even "clear" ones) are not recommended in the air-combat environment,
since anything extra between the pilot's eyes and his adversary
makes visual acquisition and tracking more difficult.
Another useful technique for watching a bogey close to the sun is to
close one eye and block out the sun's disc with the palm of the hand, a
thumb, or a fingertip. This technique usually is effective unless the bogey
pilot positions his aircraft perfectly in the sun, which is quite difficult to
accomplish.
I closed one eye, holding the tip of my little finger up in front of the open orb,
blocking out just the fiery ball of the sun in front of my opened eye. I found
that it was impossible for an enemy to come down from out of the sun on a
moving target without showing up somewhere outside of my fingertip if I
continuously kept the fiery part from my vision.
Colonel Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, USMC
A radar also is quite helpful in these situations for fighters so equipped.
As soon as the angles fighter pilot recognizes the opponent's intention to
seek sun masking, a radar lock should be established. Then, if the bogey
subsequently is lost in the sun, the radar may provide valuable clues as to
where to look to reacquire it visually. One dirty, rotten trick to watch for