Editing Air combat manoeuvring (section)

==Tactics==
[[File:F-104A flight envelope.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|A flight envelope diagram showing V<sub>S</sub> (stall speed at 1G), V<sub>C</sub> (corner speed) and V<sub>D</sub> (dive speed)]]
There are five things a pilot must remain aware of when contemplating aerial engagement; of these, seeing and keeping sight of one's opponent are the most important. In Southeast Asia, over 85 percent of all kills are attributed to the attacker spotting and shooting the defender without ever being seen.<ref name="BasicPrinciples" /> Structural limitations of the attacking and defending fighters must be taken into account, such as [[thrust-to-weight ratio]], [[wing loading]], and the "corner speed" (the maximum or minimum speed at which the aircraft can attain the best turning performance). Variable limitations must also be considered, such as [[turn radius]], turn rate and the [[Aircraft specific energy|specific energy]] of the aircraft. Position of aircraft must quickly be assessed, including direction, angle off tail (the angle between flight paths),<ref>[http://www.gruntsmilitary.com/airdic.shtml Air Force Glossary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107063241/http://www.gruntsmilitary.com/airdic.shtml |date=2010-01-07 }}. Gruntsmilitary.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-16.</ref> and closing speed. Also, the pilot must be aware of his [[wingman]]'s position and maintain good communication.<ref name="BasicPrinciples" />

A pilot in combat attempts to conserve his aircraft's [[energy]] through carefully timed and executed manoeuvres. By using such manoeuvres, a pilot will often make trade offs between the fighter's [[potential energy]] (altitude) and [[kinetic energy]] (airspeed), to maintain the energy-to-weight ratio of the aircraft, or the "specific energy".<ref name="BasicPrinciples" /> A manoeuvre such as the "[[Basic fighter maneuvers#Low Yo-Yo|low yo-yo]]" trades altitude for airspeed to close on an enemy and to decrease turn radius. The opposite manoeuvre, a "[[Basic fighter maneuvers#High Yo-Yo|high yo-yo]]", trades speed for height, literally storing energy in "the altitude bank",<ref>[http://www.352ndfightergroup.com/virtual/protac/acm/maneuver.html Sick's ACM School: Maneuvers Explained] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831125643/http://www.352ndfightergroup.com/virtual/protac/acm/maneuver.html |date=2009-08-31 }}. 352ndfightergroup.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-16.</ref> which allows a fast moving attacker to slow his closing speed.<ref name="BasicPrinciples" /><ref>[http://wiki.battlegroundeurope.com/index.php/Advanced_Combat_Manoeuvres Advanced Combat Manoeuvres – Battleground Europe Wiki] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714164758/http://wiki.battlegroundeurope.com/index.php/Advanced_Combat_Manoeuvres |date=14 July 2018 }}. Wiki.battlegroundeurope.com (2008-08-15). Retrieved on 2010-11-16.</ref>

An attacker is confronted with three possible ways to pursue an enemy, all of which are vital during chase. "Lag pursuit" happens in a turn when the nose of the attacker's aircraft points behind an enemy's tail. Lag pursuit allows an attacker to increase or maintain range without [[Overshoot (aviation)|overshooting]]. "Lead pursuit" in a turn occurs when the nose of the attacking aircraft points ahead of the enemy. Lead pursuit is used to decrease the distance between aircraft, and during gun attacks when the cannons must be aimed, not at where the defender is, but where he will be when the bullets get there. "Pure pursuit" happens when the nose of the attacker points directly at the defender. Pure pursuit is when most missiles will be fired, and is the hardest position to maintain. These are known as pursuit curves.<ref name="BasicPrinciples" />

[[Image:Fighter maneuvering - tactical egg.PNG|thumb|150px|The tactical egg shows the effects of gravity on manoeuvring]]The turning battle of a dogfight can be executed in an infinite number of geometric planes. Pilots are encouraged to keep their manoeuvres out of the strictly vertical and horizontal planes, but to instead use the limitless number of oblique planes, which is much harder for an adversary to track. This infinite number of planes around a fixed point about which the aircraft turns is termed the "post and bubble". A fighter that can maintain position between an aircraft and its imaginary post cannot be attacked by that aircraft.<ref name="BasicPrinciples" /> The imaginary bubble, however, is misshapen by [[gravity]], causing turns to be much tighter and slower at the top, and wider and faster at the bottom, and is sometimes referred to as a "tactical egg".<ref name="BasicPrinciples" />

The manoeuvres employed by the attacker can also be used by the defender to evade, or gain a tactical advantage over his opponent. Other components may also be employed to manoeuvre the aircraft, such as [[Yaw angle|yaw]], [[Drag (physics)|drag]], [[Lift (force)|lift]], and [[thrust]] vectors.<ref name="BasicPrinciples" /> A key factor in all battles is that of "nose-tail separation". While getting close enough to fire a weapon, an attacker must keep his aircraft's nose far enough away from the tail of the defender to be able to get a good aim, and to prevent an [[Overshoot (aviation)|overshoot]]. The defender, likewise, will use every manoeuvre available to encourage an overshoot, trying to change his own role to that of attacker.<ref name="BasicPrinciples" />