In a dueling situation, where two planes are merging co-alt, co-speed, and with a slight lateral separation, what is the optimal reversal, assuming that both planes have sufficient speed to pull maximum g throughout the reversals and that both planes will, in fact, pull maximum g throughout the reversals? In my very limited dueling experience, it seems that most pilots pull Immelmans, either pure or oblique. The variable seems to be the proper oblique angle. When I first started, I would use non-oblique Immelmans (i.e., half loops) but found myself getting losing angles to pilots that used oblique (e.g., 45-degree) Immelmans. Perhaps the answer depends on the types of planes used for the duel, and on how AH's g-limit works (see my earlier post).
Originally, I assumed that AH's g-limit was such that planes (and their virtual pilots) could experience no more than 6 g. In that case, it seems to me that a pure Immelman reversal should be the fastest reversal when a plane has enough energy to pull maximum g throughout the reversal. Thinking in terms of a "doghouse" EM (energy maneuverability) plot (one source of examples and explanations of EM plots is Badboy's article at
http://www.simhq.com/simhq3/sims/air_combat/energymgmt/), planes performing oblique and non-oblique Immelman reversals will be to the right of the "peak" throughout the maneuvers (i.e., they will be pulling maximum g throughout the reversals), but the plane performing the pure Immelman will lose more speed than a plane performing any oblique Immelman, because it is converting more of its speed into altitude. Thus, it seems to me that the plane performing the pure Immelman should turn tighter and get its nose around faster (i.e., it should, throughout the maneuver, be closer to the "doghouse" peak and therefore be turning with a smaller radius and at a greater rate) than one performing an oblique Immelman. My experience has not borne this out, however.
My observations may be explained by the way that AH's g-limit works (or by the fact that I suck
). Namely, if AH's g-limit limits the g that planes can generate, rather than the total g (i.e., g generated by plane plus or minus that contributed by gravity) by which they can be affected, a plane pulling a maximum-g oblique Immelman may, on average, experience higher g than a plane pulling a maximum-g non-oblique Immelman. Thus, a maximum-g oblique Immelman may reverse a plane faster than a maximum-g pure Immelman.
If anyone has any insight or corrections, I would really appreciate reading them! Thanks in advance.
- JNOV