From: "David S. Bieksza" <bieksza@APLCOMM.JHUAPL.EDU>
Subject:      Air War Solo Replay (1/1)

From the _Air_War_'80 update:  "Formosa Straits" -- four Nationalist
Chinese F-104's vs. twelve Red Chinese MiG-19's.  The F-104 was rated as
having great climb and dive performance but rotten turn performance.  So
the Nationalist Chinese would separate by sections, then turn toward each
other with some sort of climbing maneuver.  Eventually, it was hoped, they
would gain a position from which to fire off a Sidewinder or two --
especially at one of the poorer-quality enemy pilots (the Pilot Capability
optional rule was in effect).

One section (#1 and #2) turned to a reciprocal course from the MiGs.  The
other immediately began to climb in preparation for an Immelmann or a
climbing vertical roll.  However, after several Game-Turns in Climb III it
was noticed that, given current throttle setting and altitude grouping,
either maneuver would leave the planes at zero speed!  The Nationalist
Chinese were definitely not going to risk departing controlled flight, so
the aircraft brought their noses down and sped away, intending to gain
some separation while dropping to a more advantageous altitude grouping
for a maneuver as well as a better (higher) throttle setting.  Eight MiGs
had been milling around to see what the F-104's were going to do, and they
were far behind by the time they turned around to pursue.

Four MiGs had turned to intercept the other section of F-104's.  Since
only one pilot was of "normal" quality, the Nationalist Chinese didn't
take the threat too seriously.  But that pilot took a shot on Game-Turn 8
at #2 as it moved from his left to right, and on Game-Turn 12 at #1 as it
moved from his right to left.  Both shots were long-range, high-angle-off
combats that had a rock-bottom probability number, and both missed.

The F-104's had turned left in order to shake this Red off.  But just as
they were about to start climbing for their maneuver, two more MiGs began
diving onto their tails!  No help could be expected from the other section
-- they had not quite pulled out of their dive, so an Immelmann or
climbing vertical roll was many, many Game-Turns in the future.  And
climbing for a maneuver of their own would slow them down to be better
targets.  So they just put on the speed to disengage -- at least that
preserved a draw.

-------
Dave Bieksza                 bieksza@aplcomm.jhuapl.edu
-------
"Comet Hale-Bopp" is an anagram for "HTML be poop, Ace."
-------