For those that think energy fighting is easy or dull heres an extract taken from 'Fighter Combat: Tactics and Manouvering' by Robert L. Shaw:
practical aspects of the energy fight.
'......there are some practical considerations which complicate matters in actual combat.One of these is the difficulty of maintaining sight of the opponent.Extension/pitch-back tactics result in great distances being generated between fighter and bogey.Additionally, the pilot of the energy fighter spends much of his time looking over his shoulder at the bogey, making visual tracking even more difficult.A very small bogey may force the energy fighter pilot into reducing his exstention times, thereby acheiving less energy advantage during each extention.Looking over his shoulder also complicates aircraft control for the pilot of the energy fighter.For example, it is difficult to judge a wings level attitude for commencing a pitch-back while looking backward.The aircrafts speed and altitude also may have to be judged by feel, since the pilot may not be able to afford to take his eyes off the bogey for a peek at the gauges.This can be especially hazardous during low-altitude engagements,as more than one pilot has extended himself right into the ground while looking back over his shoulder.'
'Aircraft design is another factor which must be considered.Poor rearward visibility, very high vertical-manouvering speed (ie well above the best climb speed ), poor slow-speed control qualities, or low-G power plant limitations can make these tactics impractical.Even a cloud layer can prevent offensive use of the pitch-back.
Another consideration is the possibility of other hostile fighters in the area,The energy fighter is exceedingly vulnerable to such threats while at slow speed near the top of a pitch-back.Also, since pilots tend to concentrate their lookout along the horizon, the pilot of an aircraft manouvering vertically almost assures he will be seen by nearby fighters in a wide altitude band, making attack by an unseen enemy even more likely.
All these practical considerations present severe limitations to the use of energy tactics and their employment even in sterile situations very difficult; they require much training for proficiency.'
[ 06-12-2001: Message edited by: hazed- ]
