Target Pattern Procedures
Weapons
FLYING THE PATTERN
TURN TO ABEAM
After recovery, at a pitch attitude of 10 degrees above the horizon, apply MRT, relax g, roll to 60
degrees AOB, and initially apply 4 g to reach the abeam position slightly inside the cone. During the
turn, you will have to locate your interval (the aircraft immediately preceding you in the pattern).
Procedures in the event you cannot locate your interval are given later, under “Safety.” After 90
degrees of turn, maintain 2-3 g and begin to reduce power to arrive at the abeam on altitude and
airspeed.
ABEAM POSITION
The abeam position is a point slightly inside the cone and abeam the target; your heading is
180 degrees from the run-in line. The abeam distance is slightly less than two nautical miles.
ABEAM TO ROLL-IN
Between the abeam position and the roll-in, the aircraft follows a circular arc, moving from slightly
inside to slightly outside the cone (Figure 24). Pattern altitude must be maintained from the abeam
to the roll-in. Passing the abeam, fly a 12-14 unit level turn maintaining pattern airspeed. About
90 degrees from the
run-in heading, set
ABEAM
power to the weapon
"Past"
release rpm and
increase the pull to
"Prior"
15-17 units, maintain-
ing pattern altitude
THE ROLL-IN
The roll-in begins
about 30 degrees of
heading prior to the
run-in heading.
"Approaching"
Because the HUD
only displays heading
"Crosswind"
15 degrees either
side of the heading
marker, you will have
to estimate this 30-
degree lead point. At
this point, relax back
stick and roll the
Figure 24: POSITIONS IN THE WEAPONS PATTERN
aircraft to about 120
degrees AOB, and smoothly pull the aircraft down so that it is aligned with the run-in line. (You can
accept a variance of less than 10 degrees from the target run-in line.) Because the HUD doesn’t
have a bank scale in the air-to-ground mode, you will have to estimate 120 degrees AOB; the best
method is to roll until the top of the HUD glass is pointed at your final aimpoint. The heading
indication will move very rapidly across the HUD during roll-in, so disregard the heading indications
until you roll out on the run-in heading. Stop the pull to roll wings level with the correct initial pipper
placement. A common technique is to place the top of the HUD glass on the target without pulling
the HUD through the target. Roll out so that the aircraft is on the run-in heading. Because of the
“pendulum effect” caused by the sight depression, the roll-out must be commenced while the pipper
is still short of the run-in line. Be careful not to pull the nose too low during the roll-in, or you will
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