Air Combat Maneuvering
Flight Procedures
separation. At the first indication of relaxing g or unloading by the bandit, initiate a pulldown to
remain in position. If the bandit does not counter when you are approaching the proper distance,
overbank, pulling the nose through the horizon to the appropriate pursuit.
Your decision to come down is based on visual cues. As you pull above the bandit’s plane of
maneuvering, your closure should be slowing sufficiently to stay inside the bandit’s turn. If maintain-
ing your current nose-to-tail is desirable, execute your pulldown before the closure rate stops. If it
becomes obvious you cannot stay inside the bandit’s turn, maintain the pullup until the bandit’s
relative-speed advantage results in increased nose-to-tail separation. This will allow you sufficient
separation to come down but may result in a low-angle overshoot at-range. This means that when
you come down, you might cross the bandit’s tail, but it will be at a distance, which is far better than
a high-angle overshoot in-close.
Even though a minimum of 1,000 ft of nose-to-tail distance is desirable, knowing how much more
you will need depends on how large a yo-yo was required because of the excessive closure. As you
initiate the pulldown, the bandit will continue to separate because it takes time to reconvert your
altitude advantage back to speed. Roll your lift vector below and inside the bandit’s turn to attain
lead pursuit. Try to arrive in position for a shot or, if need be, continue to another low yo-yo. You
may have to perform a series of high and low yo-yos to maintain the offensive advantage.
(10-98) Original
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