Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering

TACTICAL INTERCEPTS 375
of fighters in defensive formations should be such that each pilot can
comfortably keep sight of his wingmen and their vulnerable areas. If a
wingman is too far away or is arranged high in the sun, maintaining visual
contact can take too great a percentage of the pilot's available scanning
time, detracting from his lookout. When a high, bright sun is a significant
factor, the highest element of a defensive formation should normally be
positioned down-sun (i.e., on the side of the formation away from the sun).
The pilot's flight equipment and the aircraft design and maintenance
are also important factors. A pilot's flight clothing should be as lightweight
and nonrestricting as possible so that movement in the cockpit is not
hindered. It is often necessary to turn almost completely around in the seat
in either direction to look directly behind, no easy task in a full pressure
suit. Restraining straps must also be designed and adjusted to allow this
freedom of movement.
The Japanese early in World War II considered this cockpit freedom so
important that their fighter pilots generally did not even wear parachutes.
Another factor in this personal decision was the fact that they generally
fought over enemy territory, and their code of Bushido (the Samurai code)
did not permit them to be captured. This policy was self-defeating, however,
since, in combination with the general lack of armor protection and
self-sealing fuel tanks, it led to high attrition of experienced pilots and
caused great problems for the Japanese later in the war.
Flight controls should be designed for use by either hand, so the pilot can
rotate his body completely in either direction and still fly the airplane. The
helmet is one of the pilot's most critical flight-gear items. It must be as
lightweight as possible, otherwise it can get pretty unwieldy and be hard
on the neck under 9 Gs. Neither should it restrict the pilot's vision. This
means no part of the helmet should be visible to the pilot wearing it. It
must also be fitted and secured so that it doesn't rotate out of place under
high G or with pilot movement. The helmet should be fitted with a dark
visor that can be quickly flipped into position if it becomes necessary for
the pilot to follow a bogey very near the sun. In general, however, visors
should not be used in combat, since anything between the pilot's eyes and
the bogey, even a "clear" visor, degrades vision to some extent. Dark visors
Figure 10-17. Double Pincer or Double Option