Ok for example the P38, follow the 3G line from left to right to the point where the blue line clips the bottom of it.
That blue line represents the max G in a flat turn the P38 can sustain at sea level with 25% fuel at differing speeds and if you then look left it shows what degrees per second that relates to.
Now say at 225 Mph in a 3G flat turn at 16 degrees per second turn rate thats all you can do, you have no excess power to climb, if you want to climb you need to relax the G and if you want or need to increase the turn rate your only choice if you want to sustain it is to trade altitude but in this case you cant because its a sea level diagram.
So anything you do keeping below that blue line is a sustainable move and above its not, example at 225 Mph in a 2G turn your turn rate is now only 9.8 degrees/sec but you have power available to add some climb into your fight.
The top right scale in feet is the radius or diameter (not sure on this chart) of the turn you can sustain at your chosen speed.
Now at 215mph the P38 can sustain a turn of 1100 feet at about 16.5 degrees/sec and 2.95G.
The P51 however cannot match and sustain this, if he wants to fly the same 1100 ft turn he has to slow to 208 Mph at about 2.8G and 16 Dps theoretically the P38 would catch him in the turn if they both sustained this,
of course its not that simple tho
If the P51 decides to slow to 173 Mph his G will be approx 2.75 and his turn rate 18 dps also his turn circle will only be approx 810 feet basically now the P38 is in trouble as the P51 is turning in a smaller circle and faster.
The P38 can match this though at 190 Mph and 2.9G Turn rate although his turn circle will be larger at nearer 890 feet this will not matter because the degrees per second turned matches or is marginally on the P38's side.
Of course remember this is Sustainable turn rates we are talking you could still die to a risk all snap shot but of course if he misses he's yours for the taking.
Of course the last place the P38 wants to engage the P51 from that chart is at speeds over 260 mph as the P51 holds all the cards over that speed.
So to me that chart (which looks incomplete at low end, am sure i saw a different one from Badboy b4) tells me the percentage escape tactic if the P51 is coalt and E on your 6 would be to try and sustain a turning climb between the speeds of 190 and say 240 Mph around the 2.5G area.
Or of course just drag his speed down with your 215mph 2.95 G turn, if he tries to match with his 173 mph turn then its time to use the P38's better acceleration and climb to get outa there.
Of course thats just my interpretation of it all and its rare that things go by the book in a fight anyway.
[ 11-05-2001: Message edited by: 214thCavalier ]
