Basic Principles of BFM

BASIC FIGHTER MANEUVERING (BFM) THEORY

CHAPTER NINE

During an engagement, the NFO proves invaluable in maintaining sight of both friendly and

adversarial aircraft, particularly in the multi-bogey arena, where the pilot may focus on

prosecuting one particular aircraft.

Experience

An experienced NFO can bring expertise gained from situations previously witnessed on other

flights. Such experience can make a large difference in the outcome of an engagement. Many

fights have been won that would otherwise have been lost without the presence of the NFO.

905. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF BFM

In the past 75 years, despite the radical improvement in fighter aircraft, the basics of air combat

have remained essentially the same. The fighter aircrew of today still strives to maneuver their

aircraft into a firing position on the bogey in order to achieve victory. As Baron Von Richthofen

said, "...anything else is rubbish."

Although fighter technology is constantly improving, there remain five general areas to consider

when contemplating BFM:

Getting/keeping sight.

Flying Qualities/Energy and Maneuvering characteristics.

Airframe and wing characteristics.

Weapon System.

906. GETTING/MAINTAINING SIGHT

Getting and keeping sight in a fight are paramount. Once you have sight, do not lose it, for "he

who loses sight loses the fight." You cannot fight what you cannot see. In fact, seeing and

shooting first without the enemy gaining sight accounted for over 85% of all kills in Southeast

Asia. Good body positioning is key in keeping sight. Temporary loss of sight is unavoidable.

However, the student will learn to project the flight path of the bogey. These skills will be

emphasized during the BFM lectures. Experience in projecting the bogey's flight path such that

they can be visually reacquired is essential.

Clearly communicating who is in sight and the status of the aircraft is essential for crew

coordination and overall tactical situational awareness (SA). For these reasons, fighter crews in

the air-to-air environment use specific terms. These terms will be introduced and defined later in

chapter 10.

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BASIC FIGHTER MANEUVERING (BFM) THEORY