Air Combat Maneuvering
Flight Procedures
Abeam Attacks
An abeam attack occurs when the bogey attacks the section from the 2-5 or the 7-10 o’clock position.
When this happens, you will find yourself in one of two situations. Either you will sight the bogey abeam
with sufficient separation to employ a Tac turn to meet him head-on, or you will sight the bogey close-in
rendering a Tac turn impossible, requiring a hard or break turn into the bogey.
In the first situation as in Figure 37, Part 1, where you have enough separation, the fighter with initial visual
contact calls for a Tac turn into the bogey.
2
2
Bronco
Slam
Start
Start
Bogey
Start
PART 1
Slam
Cont.
Bogey
2
Cont.
2
2
Bronco
Cont.
PART 2
Figure 37: ABEAM ATTACK/VISUAL FORWARD QUARTER
The Tac lead (eyeball) keeps his tally and maneuvers for a close aboard pass attempting to bracket the
bogey by forcing him between the section. This bracketing technique will force the bogey to split his
concentration between the fighters, while allowing the fighters to gain the initial offensive advantage.
Employing bracketing is the most basic strategy a section can employ. Failure to bracket the bogey gives
the bogey a better opportunity to maintain sight and overall situational awareness. The wingman (shooter)
T-45C Revision 1
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