But the Vulcan relied a lot on the range calls by GCI to know when to start the turn. hence the exotic briefs by the Lightning pilots before the sortie...
"OK, if he's displaced left, call it on the right and half the range; if he's displaced right, call it on the left and double the range..."
And then got the range/side confused in the air.....
Best tactic was 2 Lightnings in about 4-6 mile trail with calls only to the lead. Vulcan turned for the lead and the trail got the shot...
IIRC there was a Lightning who turned in behind a Vulcan at night during an exercise which started a dive to get away. Something made the Lightning pilot take his head out of the scope and check - he was at M1.3 in a vertical dive. Shut the throttles, popped the airbrake switch, pulled and waited. Eventually blacked out as G started to build - and came too with the aircraft climbing and the altimeter unwinding through -500ft (+/- 700ft error?). Opened the throttles and took home a very very bent airframe.....
Last edited by ORAC; 18th Nov 2006 at 08:08.