It is a half loop then a roll to conceive the angle, the illusion makes it seem like it could be a barrel roll or a loop, when it is actually both. It would not be a BRD because it's more extreme in the vertical. The nose down turn is designed to kill the opponents E by forcing them to make a tough angle shot, then follow you vertical as you are performing the loaded roll over them.
Oh, I do understand the maneuver(s) used. The distinction I was trying to clarify and perhaps get confirmation on is the difference between the single maneuver of a "loaded roll" vs. a "Barrel Roll Defense" -- in other words BFM vs. ACM. It's kind of a semantics thing, but an important one in my opinion, especially for newer folks trying to grasp the difference. I think of a "loaded roll" as a single maneuver, whereas the Barrel Roll defense is ACM -- applying and
adapting several maneuvers into a dynamic combat setting to gain advantage against an opponent.
I think just calling this a "loaded roll" is selling yourself a bit short, actually. The whole ACM is more complex than that. You make a nice nose low break turn (increasing the closure rate and making it impossible for the Yak to pull lead -- as you said), then force the overshoot with a roll over the top, all while
keeping the enemy sight to see how he reacts (another important distinction between BFM and ACM). Since the Yak keeps turning, you roll your nose into a lead angle for the shot (again, nicely executed) and then make an excellent snap shot. I think all of these put together are important to point out.
That is also why I think I would still categorize this as a BRD, despite the "size" of the roll (though extreme in the vertical, as you said). I guess I was looking for someone to back me up on that idea. Just as TC said the nature of the break turn (nose high or nose low) can vary, so too can the size (or vertical aspect) of the roll vary, depending on what you need to force the overshoot (which depends on the relative speed of the attacker).
Regardless of what we agree to call it, the film is a good example of how to use the attackers speed, and (more importantly)
over-aggressiveness, against them. Nicely done.
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Ryno