Air Combat Maneuvering
Flight Procedures
BREAK TURN EXERCISE
This exercise simulates a section defeating a long-range missile shot. One fighter defeats the simulated
missile by breaking into the shot to create enough angles that the missile cannot hack the turn at which
time it goes ballistic. At the same time the other fighter maneuvers out-of-plane, out-of-phase to engage a
simulated bogey. Following the simulation at the beginning of the exercise, you will practice maneuvering
against the lead (now acting as a bogey) to a weapons envelope.
You will set up for the exercise in combat spread (Figure 12, point 1). The initial break call by the high
wingman simulates a bogey attacking between the section and firing a missile. The breaking aircraft then
assumes the role of the bogey to complete the exercise.
Initiate the simulated missile defense by calling for the lead to break into the missile. Always call the
break into the section during this exercise—for example, “Duke, break left (right), missile in the air.” The
lead immediately executes a break turn into the missile while you pull the nose up 30 degrees and then
slow roll in the lead’s direction. When the lead completes 45 degrees of turn, tell him to “Ease the turn,”
simulating the missile’s defeat.
When the lead eases his turn at your request, he assumes the role of a passive bogey (Figure 12, point
2). You have a choice of two methods for continuing an attack on the bogey. Your first method is to
continue to roll in the direction you used to initiate the exercise, allowing you to keep sight of the bogey at
all times. To accomplish this, increase the rate of roll and relax the backstick pressure slightly (until
2
2
2
2
(2)
(2)
3
3
1
1
1
3
(1)
3
1
(1)
DASHED LINES REPRESENT SIMULATED BANDIT
Figure 12: BREAK TURN EXERCISE
established nose-low in the oblique) to avoid burying the nose. You should arrive in a nose-low slice turn
in lag pursuit. Once in the slice turn, maintain a 17-unit AOA to avoid depleting your energy, thus delaying
your ability to employ your weapons and even allowing the bogey to disengage. Remember, patience is a
virtue. As your airspeed increases in the turn, your g availability will gradually increase, and you should
increase back stick to allow you to move more rapidly with pure pursuit to a Fox-2.
Your second method is to execute a reversal away from the bogey prior to his passing beneath your nose.
Although you will momentarily lose sight of the bogey, this method typically prevents you from burying
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