Originally Posted by
gums
Salute!
Secondly, once in the the fight, bank angle is only a biggie if the other guy is not turning in the same plane as you. So the equation needs to take out that factor. OTOH when at zero or close to zero bank angle, God's gee helps or hurts depending if inverted or not. .... Once turning and going thru all the points on the protractor, you are mainly putting the lift vector where you need to to get a shot or close on the bandit. The F-22 uses TV primarily for nose-pointing from what I have heard.
Gums sends...
- If you want higher roll rates, the Gums Special leading edge device is pretty effective... use once only and discard..
- Up in area where 3D maneuver is possible, each driver is trying to get out of plane with the other at the cost of energy loss. The start will have reasonable energy, and altitude permits recovery of energy loss from a bout of TV. Whatever your ride, you are going to be either forced or dragged down to the weeds over time, and then a TV may get the solution, at the cost of loss of energy.
- Gods g by pegasus is about the addition that the harrier had available, with a really large speed brake effect.
musings....
Sustained turn factors:
- stall speed
- L/D
- excess thrust
- structural g limit
- high aoa stability & control
Reducing stall speed and improving L/D is possible, even while retaining RCS. That gives a smaller turn radius as well as increased rates of turn which can. be helpful,
The 15, 16, and 18 testbeds had various methods of giving TV, but the petal style X-31 Type III system would suggest that upgrade could be done to existing variable nozzles, but they have some geometry issues for retrofitting. Going to Type IV fluidic type wake vectoring would fit within current variable nozzles, would be a relatively lightweight and cost-effective complication to the other team.
manoeuver capability is always going to remain a factor in force capability. Pre merge engagement does not have a sufficiently high Pk to avoid leakers, so as even just a defensive follow-up it will be important. The rate of turn capability is supplemented where the missiles onboard your ride have an over-the-shoulder capability, and if the red team has that, then that increases the importance of first kill, turn rate, IR suppression/ IR countermeasures, etc. If you find sustainer type boost sections being added to your AMRAAM/R-77 etc, then its time to retire, If the missile has a first stage that has gimbal and throttling or low specific impulse, then the ability to get a near 180 degree turn off the missile starts to be achievable, designated by a helmet-mounted sight, that would be a good time to become a drone pilot.