Air Combat Maneuvering
Flight Procedures
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Defender
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Attacker
Figure 14: BARREL ROLL ATTACK
BARREL ROLL ATTACK
The barrel roll attack (BRA), Figure 14, is used in medium-to-high angle off situations outside 4,000 ft. It
utilizes all maneuvering planes to reduce the aircraft’s closure and horizontal turn radius while
maneuvering to an optimum weapons envelope with minimum energy loss. The BRA, like the
displacement roll, reduces angle off by displacing the aircraft to a different maneuvering plane. Because
of the high angle-off situation and the limited zoom capability of the T-45C, the BRA is a marginal tactic
against a counter-maneuvering bogey. Therefore, it would be best utilized against a bogey unaware of
your presence.
You will set up for the BRA using a medium-angle perch of 70-80 angle off at 1/2 to 3/4 nautical mile, and
a 1,000-ft step up above the bogey. When cleared in off the perch, pull approximately 30 degrees nose-
up while pulling into the bogey and aft toward his 6 o’clock. This will be similar to the barrel roll you
performed in the FAM stage, but at higher (i.e., more aggressive) angle of attack. Attempting the BRA
inside the 4,000-ft criterion will almost guarantee an overshoot.
Continue to raise your nose using 17 units AOA rolling toward the bogey’s six. As you pass inverted, use
positive g and rudder to align fuselages. If excessive lateral separation exists, either reduce the rate of roll
or unload over the top to displace you farther toward the bogey’s six. Likewise, if less-than-desirable
lateral separation exists, increase your rate of roll to avoid an overshoot. If the bogey does not properly
react to your BRA, continue to press to align for a shot. But typically, the bogey will counter with a hard
pull into you followed by a vertical move into you as you begin your pulldown, resulting in a vertical
overshoot leading to a rolling scissors.
T-45C Revision 1
Page 22
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