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Maybe not, bi planes were low on power, high on drag and light, they had little energy to conserve.I would imagine that Pursuit squadrons in France flying SPADs probably used them first.
No really true - you can do energy maneuvers in just about any aircraft provided you don't exceed structural maneuvering speed. I believe Richthofen even used energy maneuvers when he stalked his victims, usually diving on an unsuspected foe and using speed to close in.Maybe not, bi planes were low on power, high on drag and light, they had little energy to conserve.
Maybe not, bi planes were low on power, high on drag and light, they had little energy to conserve.
Chennault allegedly saw the Soviets using energy maneuvers when they fought the Japanese during the 1930s.Since it appears that energy tactics had been around for a while, I guess the question changes to "When was it realized that diving upon the Japanese fighters was essentially required to survive the encounter?" It seems that early in the war, the P40's of the AVG were significantly more successful that average P40 squadrons. Was the difference that the AVG pilots were told to only attack fighters in a diving attack and avoid contact otherwise?
HiSince it appears that energy tactics had been around for a while, I guess the question changes to "When was it realized that diving upon the Japanese fighters was essentially required to survive the encounter?" It seems that early in the war, the P40's of the AVG were significantly more successful that average P40 squadrons. Was the difference that the AVG pilots were told to only attack fighters in a diving attack and avoid contact otherwise?
Since it appears that energy tactics had been around for a while, I guess the question changes to "When was it realized that diving upon the Japanese fighters was essentially required to survive the encounter?" It seems that early in the war, the P40's of the AVG were significantly more successful that average P40 squadrons. Was the difference that the AVG pilots were told to only attack fighters in a diving attack and avoid contact otherwise?
Diving attacks were used during WWI.
In Boelcke's Dicta (a recommended book, by the way), Rule #6 was:
"If an opponent dives on you, do not try to evade his onslaught, but fly to meet it."
Energy attacks were quite useful, especially if you were in an aircraft that was less than equal to your adversary. The "boom and zoom" gave you a bit of leverage over the enemy.
IIRC "boom and zoom" was also referred as "scooping"
Boelcke was himself, an accomplished pilot and trained quite a few that became legends in their own right, Richtofen being ine example.His first rule alludes to altitude without mentioning it, when he advises to secure advantages before entering combat. Especially in that era, altitude was the advantage. In that first rule he mentions approaching up-sun -- but that too implies altitude in one's favor.
"The great thing in air fighting is that the decisive factor does not lie in trick flying but solely in the personal ability and energy of the aviator. A flying man may be able to loop and do all the stunts imaginable and yet he may not succeed in shooting down a single enemy."I've only ever done it playing sims, but when I do it right I think of it as "murdering". When I get it right, I'm on my way out even as the bullets are striking. The ideal is not to have a fight. The ideal is to have an assassination.
Now if only I could do it more often! I get dragged into a furball far too much for my own good.
Totally agree, from what I remember, SPAD's were A). Fast and B). Good in a dive and stoutly built.I would imagine that Pursuit squadrons in France flying SPADs probably used them first.
Boelcke was himself, an accomplished pilot and trained quite a few that became legends in their own right, Richtofen being ine example.
If I'm not mistaken, his Dicta is still used in fighter pilot basic training courses.
Or, as Chuck Yeager said, "It's the man, not the machine."