Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering

22 FIGHTER WEAPONS
The predictor LCOS is little better than a fixed sight in this environment,
though it may provide gravity, jump, and other minor corrections.
Its major advantage, as long as the shooter's maneuver is fairly constant for
the settling time of the sight, is an accurate indication of the plane of the
bullet stream (left/right reference relative to the shooter's windscreen),
which must be estimated with the fixed sight. Because relative motion
remains between the target and the pipper, however, lead correction (up/
down relative to the shooter's windscreen) is usually inaccurate and must
still be estimated. Computed lead is generally less than that required, by an
amount that is proportional to the apparent LOS rate. For a reasonable
chance of success with this type of sight, the shooter must get into the
target's plane of turn early and establish considerable excess lead; stabilize
his maneuver until the sight settles down; make small, smooth corrections
to place the pipper on the target's flight path; and open fire well
before the target reaches the pipper.
The historical type of LCOS is optimized for the snapshot, but it is not
without problems. It is designed to show the location of bullets fired one
TOP in the past, so theoretically its lead projection is accurate as long as
bullets were indeed in the air one TOP previously. Settling time is generally
not a problem with this sight since it is normally quite short and,
except at very close range, usually expires before bullet TOP, eliminating
its effect on the pipper display. These characteristics require only that the
shooter somehow get the target and pipper to converge, and that he open
fire at least one bullet TOF prior to convergence. Although theoretically
this can be accomplished in any maneuver plane and with high LOS rates,
hit and kill probability are still enhanced by low LOS rates and in-plane
maneuvering.
A good fighter pilot, like a good boxer, should have a knockout punch— You
will find one attack you prefer to all others. Work on it till you can do it to
perfection . . . then use it whenever possible.
Group Captain Reade Tilley, RAF
7 Victories, WW-II
Air-to-air gunnery is one of the most difficult skills a fighter pilot can
master. Regardless of the type of sight, consistent accuracy depends on
total, intense concentration on the target. Whether attempting a tracking
or a snapshot pass, the shooter must make minute, smooth aiming corrections
while approaching the firing position. Usually such fine control can
be achieved best with conventional controls by holding the stick firmly
(but not squeezing out black juice) with both hands, resting the forearms or
elbows on the knees or upper legs, and applying corrections with slight
variations in finger and wrist pressure. Some positive back-pressure on the
controls usually helps, but in very high-G situations the shooter may prefer
to trim out excessive pressure to reduce fatigue. The aircraft should be
flown as close to balanced flight as possible, since most sights do not
correct for bullet curvature caused by the "Magnus effect" that results
from a yaw angle. (This is the phenomenon that allows baseball pitchers to
throw curves.) For ammunition conservation, short bursts (about one