Fighter Combat - Tactics and Maneuvering

76 BASIC FIGHTER MANEUVERS
The potential danger of an overshoot situation is dependent on many
factors, including range, relative turn performance, TCA, and relative
speeds. In general, the greatest danger exists for the attacker when overshoots
result at close range and low TCAs against a slower bogey with a
tighter turn radius, as in Figure 2-4. Against a slower or tighter-turning
opponent, the attacker should use caution in employment of the lead turn.
The earlier a lead turn is started, assuming the attacker passes behind
the defender, the closer the resulting range and the smaller the TCA at
overshoot; both of these conditions can increase the attacker's risk. If the
attacker is at a slower speed or has a smaller turn radius, the overshoot risk
is reduced and the lead turn may be begun sooner, resulting in greater
offensive advantage.
A further consideration in lead turns is a factor called flight-path separation.
As shown in Figure 2-9, this is the perpendicular distance from the
attacker to the extended flight path of the defender at any moment. In both
cases depicted in this figure, the attacker and the defender are co-speed and
approaching on opposite courses with each fighter having the same flightpath
separation relative to its opponent. In case 1, the attacker's turn
radius (RA) is approximately half the flight-path separation, while in case 2
the attacker's turn radius is doubled, about equalling the flight-path
separation. In each case the attacker begins a lead turn (time "1") against
the nonmaneuvering defender so as to arrive on his flight path with
identical nose-tail separation (time "2"). Note that in case 1 the attacker
achieves about a 180° angular advantage, while in case 2 (larger turn radius)
he gains only about a 90° advantage. In general, the potential angular
advantage of a lead turn against a nonmaneuvering opponent is proportional
to the ratio of flight-path separation to attacker turn radius when the
turn is commenced. The effect of greater attacker turn rate is to allow the
lead turn to be started at closer range, while the attacker still achieves
maximum angular advantage. This allows less time for the opponent's
defensive counter, which usually involves turning toward the attacker to
reduce flight-path separation.
Because of these principles, fighters with tight turn radii stand to benefit
most from a given flight-path separation. It therefore behooves lessmaneuverable
fighters to reduce flight-path separation to a minimum by
attempting to pass as closely as possible to an opponent in forward-quarter
Figure 2-9. Effects of Flight-Path Separation