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Help and Support Forums => Help and Training => Topic started by: plumbob on June 29, 2002, 10:17:53 PM

Title: 3/9ths line
Post by: plumbob on June 29, 2002, 10:17:53 PM

I have heard this term used several times.  Yet i havent been able to figure out what it is.  So, what is it, what is its importance, and when is it used?

Title: 3/9ths line
Post by: Virage on June 29, 2002, 11:07:32 PM

The 3/9 line is from wingtip to wingtip.  A 3/9 overshoot is when you cross the 3/9 line of the plane infront of you.  This is not a good thing.

Title: 3/9ths line
Post by: Mino on June 30, 2002, 09:23:13 AM

Staying behind the 3/9 line when attacking is a good thing.

Title: 3/9ths line
Post by: skwrl on June 30, 2002, 11:29:41 AM

refers to clock positions.  12 o'clock being straight ahead of a plane, 6 being directly behind you (as in check six), 3 o'clock being off the right wing, and 9 o'clock being off your left wing.  So the 3/9 line runs from wingtip to wingtip, and can be thought of as the line that classifies a plane as either in front of or behind you.

Title: 3/9ths line
Post by: dtango on July 02, 2002, 01:02:50 PM

Adding to what skwrl is saying, the 3/9 line divides the forward and rear hemisphere of an aircraft.  

If you are "behind" the 3/9 line of another aircraft relative to yours, it means you are in their rear hemisphere.  If you're "infront" of the 3/9 line then you're in their forward hemisphere.

3/9 line is just a term to describe a position of an aircraft relative to another.

There are all sorts of situations where you're working to get and stay behind the 3/9 line of a bogey since being in this position generally means that you have an angular advantage on them if you are behind THEIR 3/9 and they are infront of YOUR 3/9.

Tango, XO
412th FS Braunco Mustangs