Sorry, guys!
I didn't mean to confuse the issue. If you get the chance, stop by SimHQ's Air Combat Corner and take a look at my "It's All A Matter of Perspective" and "A2A Gunnery" articles for an in-depth discussion of these concepts.
http://www.simhq.com/simhq3/sims/air_combat/air_combat.shtml For now, here are a couple of pictures that might help. I think you all have got the basics pretty much right...let's just fine tune it a bit!
Here's the concept of the lift vector. Most folks visualize it as coming out of the top of the canopy...or use the rudder as a lift vector pointer. You can use the lift vector as an approximate indication of your flight path when turning.
An attacker's gun line is also in his flight path, so his lift vector is a good indication of where his bullet stream will be.
Next, here's an external view of the defender and attacker. The defender's lift vector is aligned with the attacker's. If the defender pulls G now, his flight path will remain in the attacker's flight path (gun line).
But if the defender rolls to move his lift vector, then pulling G will fly the defender out of the attacker's flight path (gun line).
If this is still not clear, let's keep the thread going and I'll try harder to explain the concepts.
Andy
