Reversals

[Noah17]

Thanks for posting the films Mtnman, I'm reading this in the morning right before I go to work so I'll have to look at them after I get home this evening.
 I'm looking forward to it and really appreciate it.

That would only apply if we were flying directly at each other, which seldom happens in merge if even one person knows what he's doing.

But you see this is exactly what I'm talking about and is one of the things that I say MUST happen in order to set up what I'm trying to do. WE ARE FLYING DIRECTLY AT EACH OTHER BECAUSE HE'S TRYING TO H.O. ME! LOL. I know you wouldn't normally fly that way and I don't normally either but, there are times when you can tell that someone is overly aggressive and, if he's going to FLY DIRECTLY AT ME this is one possible way of taking advantage of him. That's why closure is important in this case, my whole premise in all these posts is that it is a direct H.O. by an overly aggressive person that for whatever reason decides to fly in a sloppy way; he could be new or he could be a great stick that for the moment is flying sloppy because he's pissed off at his wife, and doesn't have his head in the game. I don't need to know the reason but, I can normally tell bad flying when I see it. You've had plenty of times where a Con has gone "nose on" you from a distance and you can read his mind and see his intent. If I feel I can manage it I might do what I've been proposing.

I completely agree that avoiding the HO should not be too much of a problem if that is what you want to do.
I also completely agree with the closure speeds you mention; the only reason I listed lower speeds is to show that even at those slower speeds the rate of closure is pretty darn quick.

Thanks and Salute!! Also, thanks to Mechanic and TC

[Noah17]

Ok, I got to watch the film and now I understand why you were saying what you were; we were not talking about the same merge situation. My merge begins literally direct head on, straight line, nose to nose, in to each other. It has to be for my merge to work. Your merge (nicely done) was different. In the first fight you started off with a little E advantage Your speed was about mid 300's his was in the 200's. You had gone somewhat nose down prior to the merge to gain speed; he continued level until he was close (too close) and then pulled up. It was easy for you to just pull up and shoot as he was slower and you easily got behind him for the shot.

It was a great merge but it was different from what I was describing. You had "offset the circle" getting separation before the merge. He never went nose on you for the HO/ram you style shot. He turned in front of you pulling up between 800-900 away; that's a bad distance for him to turn. Because of all this (different angles) the rate of closure is a little different too, a little slower. I think you pulled up slightly before him as well so, as you were below him and followed him up ....He was done for.... .

I really appreciate you taking the time to post the films, I especially liked the second p 51 that you circled above and roped. I'm going to look at that one again. Thanks!