From: =eadg= <XO 487th FS>

Newsgroups: warbirds.training

Subject: Re: Snapshots? (a bit long)

Which is more effective when ' on his 6', and he is doing his best toevade (no support for either one of us): trying for the snapshot, or flying to stay behind him and get a good solid shot?

Actually, I find the best approach to be a combinatin of the two.

Really, "get off a snapshot if you can, but focus on maintaining energy superiority rather than rear-quarter angular superiority".

Think about it. If you're saddled up on my 6 and I'm performing drastic, energy-depleting defensives (rolls, jinks, split's, etc), you are almost certainly faster than me (if you weren't, I wouldn't be evading, I'd be extending away to safety). Since you're faster, trying to remain saddled up becomes a gamble; namely, you're betting you kill me before I make you overshoot as I use scissors and any other defensive move I can muster (since youre faster, youll fly PAST me and then I'll be on YOUR 6). I'll gamble on football or blackjack, but not in WB hehehehe :).

Instead, I recommend that when you find yourself on the enemy's 6, take your snapshot, but then perform a soft gentle climb up and above the enemy. Since he's evading, he's almost certainly going to help you gain the altitude advantage by rolling, diving, and generally losing altitude. You will quickly find yourself above the enemy by 1000 feet or more. At this point, it's as if you are at the top of a hi yo-yo; you'll be looking down on the enemy, waiting for him to commit to a break turn, which you can roll down inside of, make another gun pass, and extend up above him again. Also, if a wildcard bogey appears, you are at a more advantageous position (than you would have been if you were glued to the enemy's 6) to react and defend.

I fly some head 2 head and it's amazing how even with exactly the same plane and fuel load, you can establish a decisive energy advantage by getting on or near the enemy's 6 and climbing softly above him. Before he knows it, you're above him ready to pounce, while he's e-poor, scrambling to find you in his views, and panicking :)

2 quick notes:

1. I usually roll inverted during my gentle climb over the enemy, to keep contsant visual on him. Be warned that if your engine is running hot aready, inverting may cause it to burn up. Keep an eye on your engine temp and oil pressure :)

2. Good pilots won't be so cooperative at diving away to help you build your e advantage. Firing a few rounds in a snapshot usually forces their hand (even if it's warpy and / or you don't have a high percentage shot, the tracers whirring by his head usually get him to break, and 9 times out of 10 his break will be a snap roll into a split-s, right where we want him).

Hope this helps :) It's actually a very simple move to pull off, and there are lots of variations, so feel free to ask

=eadg=

Warbirds Training Staff

XO 487th FS