Knowledge

Air combat manoeuvring

Source 📝

22: 268: 264:. "Lead pursuit" in a turn occurs when the nose of the attacking aircraft points ahead of the enemy. Lead pursuit is used to decrease the distance between aircraft, and during gun attacks when the cannons must be aimed, not at where the defender is, but where he will be when the bullets get there. "Pure pursuit" happens when the nose of the attacker points directly at the defender. Pure pursuit is when most missiles will be fired, and is the hardest position to maintain. These are known as pursuit curves. 193: 841: 390: 320: 86:
when aircraft were initially used to spot enemy troop concentrations, field gun positions, and movements. Early aerial combat consisted of aviators shooting at one another with hand-held weapons. The first recorded aircraft to be shot down by another aircraft, which occurred on October 5, 1914, was a
139:
Pilots soon learned to achieve a firing position (while avoiding the threat of enemy guns) by manoeuvring themselves behind an enemy aircraft; this is known as getting onto an aircraft's "six o'clock" or onto their "tail", plus a wide variety of other terms, usually coined by air crew. This type of
212:
There are five things a pilot must remain aware of when contemplating aerial engagement; of these, seeing and keeping sight of one's opponent are the most important. In Southeast Asia, over 85 percent of all kills are attributed to the attacker spotting and shooting the defender without ever being
275:
The turning battle of a dogfight can be executed in an infinite number of geometric planes. Pilots are encouraged to keep their manoeuvres out of the strictly vertical and horizontal planes, but to instead use the limitless number of oblique planes, which is much harder for an adversary to track.
176:
by minimizing the Doppler signature of one's own aircraft ("keeping the enemy at 3 or 9 o'clock"), or to exhaust the kinetic energy of an incoming missile (by changing the aircraft's course from side to side, the missile, not flying directly at target but trying to forestall it, will make sharper
115:
inspected the plane's wreckage and learned to improve the design by connecting the firing mechanism of the gun to the timing of the engine, thus allowing the gun to fire through the propeller without making contact with the propeller. As technology rapidly advanced, new and young aviators began
259:
An attacker is confronted with three possible ways to pursue an enemy, all of which are vital during chase. "Lag pursuit" happens in a turn when the nose of the attacker's aircraft points behind an enemy's tail. Lag pursuit allows an attacker to increase or maintain range without
136:, "The great thing in air fighting is that the decisive factor does not lie in trick flying but solely in the personal ability and energy of the aviator. A flying man may be able to loop and do all the stunts imaginable and yet he may not succeed in shooting down a single enemy." 276:
This infinite number of planes around a fixed point about which the aircraft turns is termed the "post and bubble". A fighter that can maintain position between an aircraft and its imaginary post cannot be attacked by that aircraft. The imaginary bubble, however, is misshapen by
300:
vectors. A key factor in all battles is that of "nose-tail separation". While getting close enough to fire a weapon, an attacker must keep his aircraft's nose far enough away from the tail of the defender to be able to get a good aim, and to prevent an
102:
Fixed, forward-firing guns were found to be the most effective armament for a majority of World War I era fighter planes, but it was nearly impossible to fire them through the spinning propeller of one's own aircraft without destroying one's own plane.
161:. He advised pilots to attack from the direction of the sun (toward which the defending pilot could not see), or to fly at a higher altitude than the opponent. Most of these rules are still as valuable today as they were a century ago. 564: 283:
The manoeuvres employed by the attacker can also be used by the defender to evade, or gain a tactical advantage over his opponent. Other components may also be employed to manoeuvre the aircraft, such as
177:
turns and will eventually have to fly a longer path). However, close-range fighting with infrared guided missiles and aircraft cannons still obeys the same general rules laid down in the skies over
229:
of the aircraft. Position of aircraft must quickly be assessed, including direction, angle off tail (the angle between flight paths), and closing speed. Also, the pilot must be aware of his
111:, was the first to solve this problem by attaching steel deflector wedges to the propeller. He achieved three kills but was shot down by ground fire and landed behind German lines. 172:, and automatic cannons capable of high rates of fire are used on nearly all modern fighter aircraft. New and additional types of manoeuvres have emerged, intending to break 221:, and the "corner speed" (the maximum or minimum speed at which the aircraft can attain the best turning performance). Variable limitations must also be considered, such as 562: 99:
that was being conducted by enemy aircraft rapidly led to the development of fighter planes, a class of aircraft designed specifically to destroy other aircraft.
676: 580: 280:, causing turns to be much tighter and slower at the top, and wider and faster at the bottom, and is sometimes referred to as a "tactical egg". 657: 256:", trades speed for height, literally storing energy in "the altitude bank", which allows a fast moving attacker to slow his closing speed. 305:. The defender, likewise, will use every manoeuvre available to encourage an overshoot, trying to change his own role to that of attacker. 619: 240:
through carefully timed and executed manoeuvres. By using such manoeuvres, a pilot will often make trade offs between the fighter's
715: 91:. The pilot, Feldwebel Wilhelm Schlichting, was shot with a carbine wielded by observer Louis Quenault, who was riding in a French 545: 184:
Close-range combat tactics vary considerably according to the type of aircraft being used and the number of aircraft involved.
181:
in the early 20th century. The master rule is still the same: get on the opponent's rear without allowing them to do the same.
21: 638: 420: 248:(airspeed), to maintain the energy-to-weight ratio of the aircraft, or the "specific energy". A manoeuvre such as the " 155:
during World War I, was the first to publish the basic rules for aerial combat manoeuvring in 1916, known as the
346: 66:
in order to attain a position from which an attack can be made on another aircraft. Commonly associated with
44: 410: 253: 252:" trades altitude for airspeed to close on an enemy and to decrease turn radius. The opposite manoeuvre, a " 708: 415: 351: 249: 765: 673: 491: 213:
seen. Structural limitations of the attacking and defending fighters must be taken into account, such as
870: 459: 26: 865: 654: 226: 844: 701: 464: 314: 104: 71: 487: 214: 129: 616: 826: 549: 302: 261: 8: 165: 40: 267: 440: 241: 63: 59: 760: 680: 661: 642: 623: 568: 108: 811: 775: 745: 724: 425: 394: 366: 356: 289: 245: 145: 121: 112: 96: 29: 859: 821: 635: 398: 157: 149: 117: 37: 780: 376: 293: 218: 125: 795: 755: 445: 371: 222: 192: 164:
Today's air combat is much more complicated than that of older times, as
152: 88: 83: 546:"Dicta Boelcke – Organization of Jagdstaffeln and the demise of Boelcke" 508: 750: 430: 173: 92: 790: 740: 381: 285: 683:. Wiki.battlegroundeurope.com (2008-08-15). Retrieved on 2010-11-16. 816: 532: 141: 67: 33: 785: 693: 389: 361: 277: 230: 770: 435: 297: 237: 178: 169: 271:
The tactical egg shows the effects of gravity on manoeuvring
128:. One of the greatest of these "ace pilots" of World War I, 319: 70:, air combat manoeuvres rely on offensive and defensive 581:
The Texas Air Base Where NATO Fighter Pilots Are Forged
236:
A pilot in combat attempts to conserve his aircraft's
674:
Advanced Combat Manoeuvres – Battleground Europe Wiki
95:
piloted by Sergeant Joseph Frantz. The need to stop
74:(BFM) to gain an advantage over an aerial opponent. 664:. 352ndfightergroup.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-16. 611: 609: 607: 605: 603: 601: 599: 597: 595: 593: 116:defining the realm of air-to-air combat, such as 857: 32:engaged in air combat maneuvering training with 573: 509:"h2g2 - Early Air-to-Air Combat - Edited Entry" 645:. Gruntsmilitary.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-16. 590: 709: 233:'s position and maintain good communication. 716: 702: 535:. Richthofen.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-16. 483: 481: 479: 421:Lag Displacement Roll (High-G Barrel Roll) 388: 318: 266: 191: 62:of moving, turning, and situating one's 20: 476: 858: 655:Sick's ACM School: Maneuvers Explained 507:Ltd, Not Panicking (27 January 2003). 308: 77: 16:Fighter aircraft movement, dogfighting 697: 502: 500: 506: 196:A flight envelope diagram showing V 132:(the Red Baron), wrote in his book 13: 723: 497: 14: 882: 689: 840: 839: 82:Military aviation originated in 667: 579:Joe Pappalardo, 23 June 2014, " 648: 629: 556: 538: 526: 1: 470: 323:Schematic view of a split S: 45:Marine Corps Air Station Yuma 7: 453: 10: 887: 460:Index of aviation articles 312: 187: 109:Morane Saulnier Aéroplanes 27:United States Marine Corps 835: 804: 731: 587:Retrieved 24 August 2018. 488:Who Killed the Red Baron? 72:basic fighter manoeuvring 617:Basic Principles of BFM 465:Basic fighter maneuvers 315:Basic fighter maneuvers 140:combat became known as 567:March 4, 2009, at the 401: 337: 272: 215:thrust-to-weight ratio 209: 200:(stall speed at 1G), V 130:Manfred von Richthofen 52:Air combat manoeuvring 48: 533:The Red Fighter Pilot 392: 322: 270: 195: 134:The Red Fighter Pilot 24: 827:Supermaneuverability 679:14 July 2018 at the 397:as performed by the 225:, turn rate and the 204:(corner speed) and V 552:on 23 October 2009. 309:Example manoeuvring 166:air-to-air missiles 78:Historical overview 660:2009-08-31 at the 641:2010-01-07 at the 636:Air Force Glossary 622:2011-08-05 at the 402: 338: 273: 210: 49: 871:Military aviation 853: 852: 585:Popular Mechanics 490:October 7, 2003. 878: 866:Aerial maneuvers 843: 842: 776:Pugachev's Cobra 718: 711: 704: 695: 694: 684: 671: 665: 652: 646: 633: 627: 613: 588: 577: 571: 560: 554: 553: 548:. Archived from 542: 536: 530: 524: 523: 521: 519: 504: 495: 485: 441:Herbst manoeuvre 242:potential energy 64:fighter aircraft 886: 885: 881: 880: 879: 877: 876: 875: 856: 855: 854: 849: 831: 800: 761:Herbst maneuver 727: 722: 692: 687: 681:Wayback Machine 672: 668: 662:Wayback Machine 653: 649: 643:Wayback Machine 634: 630: 624:Wayback Machine 614: 591: 578: 574: 569:Wayback Machine 561: 557: 544: 543: 539: 531: 527: 517: 515: 505: 498: 486: 477: 473: 456: 336: 317: 311: 244:(altitude) and 227:specific energy 207: 203: 199: 190: 107:, working with 80: 17: 12: 11: 5: 884: 874: 873: 868: 851: 850: 848: 847: 836: 833: 832: 830: 829: 824: 819: 814: 812:Aerial warfare 808: 806: 802: 801: 799: 798: 793: 788: 783: 778: 773: 768: 766:Immelmann turn 763: 758: 753: 748: 743: 737: 735: 729: 728: 725:Aerial warfare 721: 720: 713: 706: 698: 691: 690:External links 688: 686: 685: 666: 647: 628: 589: 572: 555: 537: 525: 496: 474: 472: 469: 468: 467: 462: 455: 452: 451: 450: 449: 448: 443: 438: 433: 428: 426:Cobra Maneuver 423: 418: 413: 395:cobra maneuver 387: 386: 385: 384: 379: 374: 369: 367:Immelmann turn 364: 359: 357:Bell Tailslide 354: 349: 335: 334: 331: 328: 324: 310: 307: 246:kinetic energy 205: 201: 197: 189: 186: 146:Oswald Boelcke 122:Oswald Boelcke 113:Anthony Fokker 97:reconnaissance 79: 76: 30:F/A-18A Hornet 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 883: 872: 869: 867: 864: 863: 861: 846: 838: 837: 834: 828: 825: 823: 822:Fighter pilot 820: 818: 815: 813: 810: 809: 807: 803: 797: 794: 792: 789: 787: 784: 782: 779: 777: 774: 772: 769: 767: 764: 762: 759: 757: 754: 752: 749: 747: 744: 742: 739: 738: 736: 734: 730: 726: 719: 714: 712: 707: 705: 700: 699: 696: 682: 678: 675: 670: 663: 659: 656: 651: 644: 640: 637: 632: 625: 621: 618: 612: 610: 608: 606: 604: 602: 600: 598: 596: 594: 586: 582: 576: 570: 566: 563: 559: 551: 547: 541: 534: 529: 514: 510: 503: 501: 493: 489: 484: 482: 480: 475: 466: 463: 461: 458: 457: 447: 444: 442: 439: 437: 434: 432: 429: 427: 424: 422: 419: 417: 414: 412: 409: 408: 407: 404: 403: 400: 399:Su-27 Flanker 396: 391: 383: 380: 378: 375: 373: 370: 368: 365: 363: 360: 358: 355: 353: 350: 348: 347:Combat spread 345: 344: 343: 340: 339: 332: 329: 326: 325: 321: 316: 306: 304: 299: 295: 291: 287: 281: 279: 269: 265: 263: 257: 255: 251: 247: 243: 239: 234: 232: 228: 224: 220: 216: 194: 185: 182: 180: 175: 171: 167: 162: 160: 159: 158:Dicta Boelcke 154: 151: 147: 143: 137: 135: 131: 127: 123: 119: 118:Max Immelmann 114: 110: 106: 105:Roland Garros 100: 98: 94: 90: 85: 75: 73: 69: 65: 61: 57: 53: 46: 42: 39: 38:F-5E Tiger II 35: 31: 28: 23: 19: 732: 669: 650: 631: 584: 575: 558: 550:the original 540: 528: 516:. Retrieved 512: 405: 341: 282: 274: 262:overshooting 258: 235: 219:wing loading 211: 208:(dive speed) 183: 163: 156: 138: 133: 126:Lanoe Hawker 101: 81: 55: 51: 50: 18: 796:Thach Weave 756:Finger-four 446:Hineri-komi 372:Thach Weave 223:turn radius 153:fighter ace 142:dogfighting 89:Aviatik B.I 84:World War I 68:dogfighting 860:Categories 751:Pylon turn 746:Cobra Turn 471:References 431:Cobra Turn 411:High Yo-Yo 333:Exit level 313:See also: 254:high yo-yo 174:radar lock 93:Voisin III 41:aggressors 791:Tailslide 741:Chandelle 733:Maneuvers 416:Low Yo-Yo 382:Chandelle 352:Pitchback 330:Half loop 327:180° roll 303:overshoot 250:low yo-yo 58:) is the 845:Category 817:Dogfight 781:Scissors 677:Archived 658:Archived 639:Archived 620:Archived 565:Archived 513:h2g2.com 454:See also 406:Complex: 377:Scissors 34:IAI Kfir 786:Split S 518:18 June 362:Split S 278:gravity 231:wingman 188:Tactics 87:German 47:in 1989 805:Topics 771:Kulbit 436:Kulbit 342:Basic: 298:thrust 296:, and 238:energy 179:Europe 150:German 124:, and 60:tactic 170:radar 43:near 520:2023 393:The 294:lift 290:drag 148:, a 36:and 583:", 492:PBS 286:yaw 56:ACM 862:: 626:". 592:^ 511:. 499:^ 478:^ 292:, 288:, 217:, 168:, 144:. 120:, 25:A 717:e 710:t 703:v 615:" 522:. 494:. 206:D 202:C 198:S 54:(

Index


United States Marine Corps
F/A-18A Hornet
IAI Kfir
F-5E Tiger II
aggressors
Marine Corps Air Station Yuma
tactic
fighter aircraft
dogfighting
basic fighter manoeuvring
World War I
Aviatik B.I
Voisin III
reconnaissance
Roland Garros
Morane Saulnier Aéroplanes
Anthony Fokker
Max Immelmann
Oswald Boelcke
Lanoe Hawker
Manfred von Richthofen
dogfighting
Oswald Boelcke
German
fighter ace
Dicta Boelcke
air-to-air missiles
radar
radar lock

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.