User Guide

possible.

Air-to-Air Tactics

If you have to fight another combat helicopter, or an aircraft, remember the mantra "this is

not a jet fighter". To a fighter pilot, altitude is a resource, a source of potential energy to be

converted into speed. To you, as a combat helicopter pilot, altitude means exposure to

enemy ground fire. Speed, too, works differently for a helicopter pilot. If an enemy aircraft

makes a high-speed slashing attack on you while your own speed is low, the advantage

swings to you as soon as the enemy is past. He is the prisoner of his own momentum, you

can pedal-turn and launch your own weapons from his blind spot.

Use cover and ambush tactics when the enemy is chasing you. When you're chasing him,

beware of the same tactics. Some classic air-to-air doctrines still apply to helicopter

combat; If you're part of a formation attacked by enemy helicopters, the formation should

split up. At the least, the enemy must divide his forces to pursue the different elements. If

the enemy leaves any of your elements unengaged, these should then turn around and

come in on the enemy's own tail.

Another classic air-combat tactic that may work for you is turning towards your opponent's

approach. This brings your own weapons to bear and shortens his firing time.

Using Ground-attack Weapons in Air Combat

Even if you're not carrying specialized air-to-air missiles, you should be aware of the anti-

aircraft potential of your ground-attack weapons. Cannon, rockets and anti-tank missiles

may all be usable, if less than ideal. If you have to use these weapons against aircraft, try

to do it at short range, and set up a low-deflection shot from ahead or behind. Remember

that your guided weapons may fly a pursuit path to the target, rather than an intercept path,

which reduces their effective range. Anti-tank missiles also generally have lower

acceleration and top speeds, higher drag, and much less agility than anti-aircraft missiles -

launching a Hellfire at a passing or retreating fast jet is most likely to achieve nothing more

than the waste of an expensive missile.

GROUND SCHOOL