1V1 Engagement Tactical Responsibility

BASIC FIGHTER MANEUVERS (BFM)

CHAPTER TEN

Like any complex skill worth learning, BFM capability will grow with the experience of each

engagement.

1V1 Engagement Tactical Responsibility

BFM flights 3-6 will conclude with a series of 1V1 BFM engagements directed by the student

(BFM-2 engagements were demonstrated by the IPs). As the student progresses through the

BFM syllabus, responsibility for the tactical conduct of the fights will gradually be transferred

from the IP to the student. The types of engagements and their associated tactical responsibility

are as follows:

TYPE ENGAGEMENT

ENGAGEMENT CONDUCT

Demo fight

IP demonstrates fight

Max input fight

Student directs fight with maximum IP

coaching input

Min input fight

Student directs fight with minimum IP

coaching input

Auto fight

Student directs fight with no IP coaching

input

Crew fight

Student and IP work together as a tactical

team

Engagement Admin

The engagements will be conducted from neutral abeam set-ups detailed in the "1V1

Engagement ADMIN" section of this instruction. On the final syllabus flight, BFM-6X, the

"butterfly" or "radial run" set ups may be briefed during preflight and flown at the discretion of

the lead IP.

High Aspect BFM

Up until now, the fights have started with one aircraft in a positional advantage over another. In

a high aspect engagement (i.e., head-on pass) BFM concepts take on a new light since neither

aircraft begins with a positional advantage and the flow is much less predictable. As both

aircraft maneuver for an advantage, engagements will normally transition from neutral to defined

roles.

When this occurs, the student will utilize the concepts previously discussed in Offensive and

Defensive BFM.

There are several different considerations when approaching high-aspect BFM. First of all, what

sort of merge are you likely to encounter? Here in the Training Command, your neutral sets will

occur from close range (typically inside of 1-1/2 miles) with both fighter and bogey having a

tally of the other. Assuming that neither jet is willing to give away any positional advantage at

the merge, you will pass within 500 ft (minimum for training rules) and 180 off the tail. From

here, you will employ all the BFM knowledge that you have acquired to accomplish your goals.

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BASIC FIGHTER MANEUVERS (BFM)