Air Combat Maneuvering
Flight Procedures
result in an overshoot. As the angle off decreases and you acquire the appropriate nose-to-tail distance,
roll the aircraft back toward the bogey to remain inside his turn. Be aware that the bogey may counter
your move by unloading in an attempt to gain energy and nose-to-tail separation. At the first indication of
relaxing g or unloading by the bogey, initiate a pulldown to remain in position. If the bogey 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 bogey’s plane of
maneuvering, your closure should be slowing sufficiently to stay inside the bogey’s turn. If maintaining
your current nose-to-tail is desirable, execute your pulldown before the closure rate stops. If it becomes
obvious you cannot stay inside the bogey’s turn, maintain the pullup until the bogey’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 bogey’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 bogey will continue to separate because it takes time to reconvert your altitude advantage
back to speed. Roll your lift vector below and inside the bogey’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.
T-45C Revision 1
Page 16
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