aircraft handle very differently up that high. you need to be more gentle on the controls, as you're gonna stall more easily.
when you merge, if the con goes down, do not follow. if he wants to fight, he has to come back up to you. other than that, it's almost like fighting down low, 'cept there's no ground to hit. those fights are a blast.
best advice I read so far was the first four sentences of CAP1's reply:
- aircraft handle very differently up that high.
- you need to be more gentle on the controls, as you're gonna stall more easily.
- when you merge, if the con goes down, do not follow.
- if he wants to fight, he has to come back up to you.
This is information you need to engrave into your noggin , to remember while at higher altitudes.....
figuratively speaking, it takes twice the distance and nearly twice the time to do a 360 degree turn / circle at lets say 22.5 K alt while maintaining a 270 mph
IAS speed than it does performing the same 360 degree turn / circle while maintaining a 270 mph
IAS speed down lower around lets say 5 K alt........
the air is much thinner at high altitude, the faster ( read as HARDER ) you turn the quicker you bleed your energy and the faster you will find yourself losing altitude trying to keep your aircraft's speed up.........
when flying & Dog Fighting at high Altitude use "Low - G" Maneuvers and conserve every last ounce of "E" ( Energy ) you can squeeze out of your plane.... use more aileron authority verses using the elevators to roll and gently pull to switch directions, instead of rapidly rolling and yanking to point that lift vector when turning or trying to keep your nose on your opponent...... try to coerce your opponent to blow their planes speed/energy on you trying to get them to maneuver for a guns solution........ yet only present them with as small a shot window or slim view of your aircraft.......... always be very conscience of what you are trying to tempt your opponent into doing.. entice them to waste their energy....
High Altitude Dog Fighting is more like a "Chess Match" while down in the weeds Dog Fighting is like your basic recess time for some kids game of Checkers...
hope this is of some help...... Good Luck
