Hi Welch,
>Hard skill to learn for many, but many aces perfected it in conflicts like WWII, and often had the advantage because of that no doubt.
I'd like to add that for deflection shooting, there is a difference between tracking shots and so-called snapshots that are fired from a position that is not part of a pursuit curve.
The former give longer-lasting shooting opportunities with accordingly greater chances to do damage. On the other hand, they require that the pilot flies in a way to match the opponent's every move, which is a difficulty in itself - especially if the aircraft of the opponent is more manoeuvrable. Matching the opponent's moves usually requires "saddling up" and bringing the aircraft to a similar energy state as his, too.
The latter gives only short opportunities, but these opportunities are easier to achieve, even against more manoeuvrable opponents. It is more difficult to hit however, as it's necessary to visualize the lead correctly before opening fire, and there is not enough time in a run to correct the fire by observing the tracers. On the other hand, there is no need to establish a tracking position in a pursuit curve, a simple collision curve is enough. It is possible to retain much more energy than the defender, and the high angle-off that usually results means that the target presents a relatively large vulnerable area (as protection is best against attacks from the front and rear). Due to the use of a collision course, it's often possible to fire from very short range, making the lead estimation easier though the high angle-off of course makes it more difficult. That it is not necessary to get into a near-co-energy pusuit curve situation is a great advantage for a less manoeuvrable or lower-performance attacker as he can maintain an energy advantage while attacking (if he had one to begin with, that is
Snapshots benefit greatly from high firepower weapon (due to the short shooting opportunities), and also from centreline armament (since they have no lateral deviation from the aimpoint regardless of the firing distance, which rapidly changes in snapshots). If the firepower of an aircraft is low, snapshots are not very attractive, and tracking shots might be virtually enforced by the necessity to fire at the target for prolonged periods for effect.
Historically, tracking shots were recognized as difficult, as the enthusiasm for the load-computing optical gunsight showed which made it possible for the average shooter to accurately see the required amount of lead in a stabilized tracking situation. However, experienced pilots often were not as heappy with the sight as it was no help outside a stabilized tracking situations. In snapshot situations the old fixed reticle actually was superior, and I think that was the reason of the discontent of some experienced fighter pilots with the LCOS sight.
Regards,
Henning (HoHun)