Simply put, this is one of the best and most beautifully illustrated books on air comabt techniques and tactics ever released in our opinion.
"A stunning book packed full of pertinent information and dazzling, yet fucntionally informative graphics, that no other publication before it has been able to achieve in this field"
- Computer Pilot Magazine
This is the definitive guide for flight simmers interested in combat simulation, with easily accessible information and colourful illustrations that can be used as a guide to the methods of air combat from World War One to the modern day.
Using state of the art digital illustration techniques the book shows how and when to employ the best manoeuvres to beat both the computer and other players.
Lavishly illustrated with photos and colour artworks.
256 pages.
Detailed Review Of Chapters Follows:
Taken from Computer Pilot Magazine
Chapter 1 – A Brief History of Air Fighting
As the chapter title alludes to, this is a brief history of air combat, focusing mainly on the aircraft of air warfare, from the Spad’s of World War I to the Stealth fighters of modern day combat. It covers the evolution of aircraft design and improvements in firepower and engine power over the years that have led to the fierce and deadly aircraft we see in air combat today. There are plenty of black and white photos in this section for reference.
Chapter 2 – Basic Training
This chapter covers such items as air training history, the basics of flight, cockpits and layouts, takeoffs and landings, formation flying, radio comms, building blocks, orientation, complex engine management, emergencies, stalls and spins. Here we find the first of the beautiful diagrams spread throughout the book. These printed on glossy paper offer an excellent example of how information can be delivered in an effective manner, in a similar method as what Mike Ray delivers in his articles for Computer Pilot. While much of the information here may not be of use for seasoned combat veterans, beginners and intermediate skilled pilots will find great value in these pages. Simply getting up into the air successfully in a fighter or bomber can be a task. This section will make those jobs easier. The formation flying text offers some great tips as well.
Chapter 3 – Fighter Combat Basics
Here we start getting into the really useful stuff for helping you survive your next airborne encounter. Since we attempt to simulate real world flight the information throughout the book is pretty much the same or similar to what a real world combat pilot would learn. We get our first look at basic combat maneuvers, including the Immelman Turn, Snap Roll, Barrel Roll, Hammerhead and Split-S among others, and perhaps most importantly to the success of any dogfight, a look at gunnery theory and practice, including items such as bullet convergence in relation to line of sight and position of aircraft versus the enemy aircraft’s position. Point shots, snap shots and tracking shots are also covered.
Chapter 4 – Advanced Fighter ACM
Once you have the basics covered, and in reality this could take many years of flying or simulation flying practice to perfect, we can move onto more advanced maneuvers. This is where more seasoned veterans will likely find information of greater value. Topics covered include a very informative section on working with wingmen, which, while only very brief, offers several tips on improving the lead-wingman relationship. There is also a good combat maneuver explained showing how the lead and wingmen can finish off a bandit. More advanced maneuvers are offered in full graphical detail representation including the useful Yo-Yo maneuver, Lag-Roll and Scissors maneuvers. Following that is a double page spread on perhaps the most vital aspect in a dogfight: Energy. As the book states “ENERGY IS LIFE” and this has been preached many times in Computer Pilot magazine over the years in our combat flying articles.
Chapter 5 – Fighter vs Fighter
This chapter focuses purely on dogfighting with other fighter type aircraft. It should also be noted that a lot of the content in this chapter and this book is perhaps more focused on older aircraft from the earlier wars, say from prior to the 1980’s. Dogfighting is much less common in the 21st century due to design and production of longer range “stand-off” weapons and tactics that aim to reduce any air to air combat by eliminating an enemy’s air forces as swiftly as possible on the ground. Nonetheless similar principles and tactics can be used equally as well in modern jet fighters but the tactics like close-range turn fighting, head-on attacks and merge fighting were much more common in air battles from many more years ago. The “mission” feature, titled “Rat-Catching” in this particular chapter offers a historical account of a situation in World War II where P-51’s broke off from an escort to engage enemy Me262 jets over Europe. It makes for some very interesting reading of one of the first prop vs jet battles in history.
Chapter 6 – Fighter vs Bomber
Air combat is not just about dogging it out with other fighters. Fighter – Bomber engagements are perhaps even more important as the necessity to take down bombers before they can release their payload is obvious. Here we find some useful advice on engaging bombers from the best angles, how to avoid bomber-mounted machine gun turrets and how best to break up a bomber formation and impede its progress toward the target. There is a good historical example given of how german fighters in World War II employed head-on bomber attacks successfully against American B-17 Flying fortresses and Liberators.
Chapter 7 – Bombing
The focus now moves from air-to-air combat to air-to-ground combat. It begins with a history of aerial bombardment from World War I to current day. There is a beautifully illustrated page of several bombers in profile, including the B-17, He-111, the Halifax, Petlyakov Pe-2 and the Nuisance Raider. Bomb types and bombsights are then discussed highlighting their changes in history. There is a nice spread offering reasons for bombing in squadrons with the “safety in numbers” principle applied throughout. Operation Ramrod 564 was a daring mission to bring down the stone outer walls of Amiens prison where captured French nationalists were known to be imprisoned. The raid was also a front to attempt to entice the Germans into believing the D-Day raiding groups would come ashore via the Straits of Dover rather than in Normandy further south -- interesting reading! The chapter then follows on with tips for gunners operating from the bombers, a look at the famous Dam-Busting missions flown by the Lancasters and finally some advice on night bombing.
Chapter 8 – Close Air Support
When your troops on the ground need assistance from above, Close Air Support is called in. This can begin as pre-attack recon, insertion of special forces behind enemy lines, or attacking armor or gun emplacements during an invasion. A case study on Battlefield preparation at Normandy is offered, again with excellent illustrations. Dive-bombing is covered, featuring arguably the most well-known dive bombing aircraft, the Junker Ju -87 Stuka! In most sections there are details of bomb types used, why they are used and how effective they were in real world combat. “Aircraft vs Tanks” is the next section in this chapter, and the author has all bases covered again, this time offering up a Russian aircraft that is famous for this type of assignment – the IL-2 Shturmovik. Operation Zitadelle (The Clash at Kursk) is highlighted here, again with the Shturmovik and Germany’s Hs 129 implementing various tactics against enemy tanks. Tactics like hitting the rear side of tanks (where armor is the thinnest) are emphasized.
Chapter 9 – Maritime Airpower
Naturally in this chapter, there is a focus on carrier based aircraft and their roles throughout several wars. There are some excellent wartime photos featured of the Battleship Bismarck, the Japanese Yamato and HMS Eagle. A spread on taking off and landing from carriers is very useful indeed if you are not familiar with the process in your simulator. Or perhaps you would prefer a spot in the “Goofer’s Gallery”? You will have to grab the book and read it if you do not know what this refers to! Seaplanes and Maritime Reconnaissance is covered as is the skill of Aerial Torpedo Attack, which can be one of the trickiest skills to master. A good WWII combat simulator will offer a simulation of Aerial torpedo bombing. Again some great graphics and tactical information is on offer here that is well worth reading.
Chapter 10 – Other Missions
This chapter offers a bit of a mixed bag of content. Firstly it looks at the various uses of air power, from espionage to evacuation and electronic warfare. Next there is a section on Forward Air Control with a case study of the Khe Sanh invasion of US forces in 1968. This was a failure as the Vietnamese leadership expected to overrun U.S firebase at Khe Sanh swiftly and easily. What they were not expecting were the Douglas A4 Skyhawks that quickly put an end to that misjudged escapade. Following that is a look at use of airpower for troop and supply transport and then a look at Anti-Aircraft Artillery, although some tips and tricks to improving hit ratios would have been useful here as some of our sims do simulate anti-air artillery control. There is a look at the history of ground control, dedicated night fighters and a case study of the Kammhuber Line to finish the chapter.
Chapter 11 – The Modern Age
It is fair to say that the majority of the book thus far has focused on pre-jet air combat, but here we find some more modern history of airborne combat. It begins with “Mission: Vietnam Air War” and a look at the MiG 17, MiG 21, F-4 Phantom and Huey helicopters. Then Missile Combat gets the graphical treatment, as well as some informative text on missile behavior and ranges etc. I would have liked to see a little more in this department however as missiles are the primary air-to-air attack weapon these days. Some finer tactics on missile use and deployment in the air for maximum effectiveness would have made this section more interesting I feel. SAM Evasion on the next double-page offers some better tips on avoiding getting blown out of the sky from below, which was good to see. The history of A-10s in combat during Operation Desert Storm makes for interesting reading and the chapter concludes with a look at Future War and what can be expected in terms of air combat in the future. I do feel like the authors missed the boat a little in this section. With such a large focus on World War II aircraft and history in previous chapters, it would have been good to have expanded more upon the modern jet fighters and special jet-fighter related tactics they use to stay alive in the air. This would have given the book a little more balance in content overall.
Chapter 12 – Flight Simulation
With only four pages of text in this chapter, it too seemed a little lacking, particularly with the book carrying the title it does. There is a two-page history of flight simulation, a one page look at simulation related hardware that is available, and a one-page introduction to the online flight simulation world. Not enough in my opinion. It would have been good to have seen some more detail into what particular flight simulators are the best or most aligned to the rest of the content on offer in the book. I.e. which simulators can you best use to practice carrier landings, air to air fighting in jet aircraft, or which simulator offers the most realistic Stuka dive-bombing simulation etc etc. While the majority of book content can be tied into simulation by the end reader, those newer to flight simulation may not be aware of what is available out there, and more so, the large scope and range of products and information available to the keen virtual pilot. It would make for eye-opening reading and generate some excitement in the genre. Appendices Here we can find an excellent interview with Capt. Eric Brown, a naval test pilot who answers many direct and probing questions on just about all aspects of air combat and his own experience over the years. It makes for great reading and is a nice inclusion in the book. Equally interesting is the ten or so pages of comparative performance tables covering many popular combat aircraft through the ages. This can be used to pick the strengths and weaknesses of your opponent’s aircraft in your simulators and devise tactics to exploit those weaknesses and avoid instances which plays into the hands of your opponent’s aircraft strengths.
Conclusion
Despite a few shortcomings in the later parts of the book, at least in my opinion, this book is really a must have item. The presentation is simply the best I have seen in a flight simulation related book and there is a good amount of information presented, much of which can be utilized by virtual air combat pilots of all skill levels. Readers will come away with increased general knowledge of air combat, increased knowledge of certain aircraft types and models, as well as a “playbook” of tactics that can be employed to avoid enemy fire from both the air and ground, as well as to better position yourself during a dogfight to make a kill.
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