Games PC F-22 User Manual
F-22
LIGHTNING 3
Tactics Manual
1
Table of Contents
BFM (Basic Flight Maneuvers)......................................................................................................2
Break Turn....................................................................................................................................2
Immelmann..................................................................................................................................2
Split S..........................................................................................................................................3
ACM (Air Combat Maneuvers).......................................................................................................3
Lead Pursuit..................................................................................................................................3
Line (or Pure) Pursuit......................................................................................................................4
Lag Pursuit...................................................................................................................................4
Early Turn.....................................................................................................................................4
One Circle Fight.............................................................................................................................4
Two Circle Fight.............................................................................................................................5
Co-Operative Bracket.....................................................................................................................5
Scissors.......................................................................................................................................6
Offensive Tactics...........................................................................................................................6
Missile Combat..............................................................................................................................6
Guns Combat................................................................................................................................7
Bomb Delivery...............................................................................................................................8
Defensive Tactics..........................................................................................................................9
Stealth Considerations...................................................................................................................9
Electronic Counter-Measures (ECM).................................................................................................9
Missile Avoidance........................................................................................................................10
GLOSSARY OF FLIGHT TERMS...................................................................................................11
1
BFM (BASIC FLIGHT MANEUVERS)
There are a few basic flight maneuvers (BFMs) that you should be aware of before you enter combat. Your opponent will be well
versed in these tactics so it is recommended that you take the time to practice them yourself.
BREAK TURN
The Break turn (or maximum rate turn), should rightfully be
considered an emergency maneuver and should never be used if a less
severe bank attitude will suffice. Break turns are a means of cutting
inside the turn radius of an incoming missile. They can be used equally
well to throw off an opponent who is moving in for a guns-only kill. They
are most effective when they are performed suddenly and unexpectedly.
Abrupt changes in direction may cause an attacker to overshoot and be forced out in front of you.
A Break turn is performed by rolling 90˚ so that your wings are perpendicular to the ground. At the same time, pull the stick back hard.
Hold this attitude for as long as necessary but watch out, your airspeed will bleed off rapidly. Never maintain a Break turn for so long that
you are unable to maneuver after the turn is completed. The high G force created by this maneuver is another danger. Blackouts (if the
option is turned on) can result from Break turns performed at too high a speed. If you feel this beginning to happen, relax the stick to
reduce the G forces or extend your speed brake.
IMMELMANN
Another basic fighter maneuver is the Immelmann. It’s named after Max
Immelmann, the German pilot who perfected this maneuver in WW I,.
Basically, the Immelmann is nothing more than a climbing half loop as shown
in the diagram. Enter the Immelmann from level flight or preferably a shallow
dive. Begin by building up a little excess speed then start pulling back
gradually on the stick. Keep back pressure on the stick until you reach a
sheer vertical climb. (You can judge your aircraft attitude by keeping an eye on
the HUD pitch ladder or by switching to a Virtual Cockpit view.)
At this point, you can complete the Immelmann at any time by pulling
back on the stick. Notice however that you will be flying inverted. A 90˚ half
roll is required to return you to a normal flight attitude. The Immelmann is not just a reversal maneuver. Once you get really good at it, you’ll
be able to roll while climbing so that you can pull out in any compass heading you desire.
Break Turn
Half Roll
Half Loop
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TACTICS3TACTICS
SPLIT S
As the diagram indicates, the Split S is really nothing more than an
Immelmann in reverse, instead of climbing you are performing a dive. In fact if
you combined an Immelmann with a Split S you would wind up flying in a
complete loop. Like the Immelmann, the Split S can be used to effect a
sudden reversal of direction but it is most effective as a means of instantly
increasing your speed.
The first step in performing a Split S is to roll 90˚ so that your aircraft is
now inverted. This is done so that you are pulling back on the stick to enter
the dive rather than pushing it forward. (Your body can withstand positive Gs
better than it can negative.) Rolling inverted from level flight telegraphs your
intentions so wait until you are ready to dive before starting your roll. Pull the nose of your aircraft down to enter the dive and keep back
pressure on the stick until you are vertical. (Again, use the Virtual Cockpit view or HUD pitch ladder to judge your aircraft’s attitude.)
Reduce your speed to stay near your corner velocity and avoid losing too much altitude. Either cut the throttle before you enter the
dive or slow the aircraft by opening your speed brakes (the B key). To complete this maneuver, pull back sharply on the stick, bringing the
nose of the aircraft up to a level flight attitude. Like the Immelmann, you can wind up heading in any direction you desire by rolling slowly
as you dive. The Split S is a great maneuver but you must use caution. Be careful not to engage this maneuver at too low an alititude, you
may not be able to pull out of it in time.
ACM (AIR COMBAT MANEUVERS)
PURSUIT ANGLES
Immediately after identifying an enemy target, you enter a phase of air combat known as the
closure phase. This stage of combat is where you figure out how to get close enough to the enemy to
shoot him down. It sounds fairly straightforward but it is actually a period of significant tactical
decision making. If you are tasked with intercepting an enemy aircraft, there are three basic closure
angles referred to as Pursuit Angles. These are Lead pursuit, Line (or Pure) pursuit, and Lag pursuit.
LEAD PURSUIT
A Lead Pursuit is one in which you keep the nose of your aircraft pointed ahead of your intended
target. This pursuit angle demands the highest level of energy from your aircraft because you are
forced into an ever-increasing turn rate as the pursuit continues. Of the three angles, it is the most
dangerous. Not only do you need to be concerned about getting into an overshoot situation, the risk of reversal is great as well. Even so, it
is easier to switch from a lead to a lag pursuit then vice versa. Though the risk of miscalculation is high, lead pursuits allow you to keep
Half Roll
Half Loop
MiG-29
MiG-29
F-22
Lag
Pursuit
Pure
Pursuit
Lead
Pursuit
your tactical options open.
LINE (OR PURE) PURSUIT
A Line (or Pure) pursuit is one in which you keep the nose of your aircraft pointed directly at (in line with) your intended target. This
pursuit angle is really a transitional approach that holds your attack options open as you close in. Essentially, a line pursuit extends the
amount of time you have before committing yourself. As long as you can keep the nose of your aircraft in line with the bandit, you have the
upper hand.
LAG PURSUIT
A Lag pursuit is one in which you keep the nose of your aircraft pointed slightly behind your intended target. Every intercept should start
out as a lag pursuit because it generates the least amount of G forces and allows you to preserve your available energy for closure. This type
of closure also affords you the best opportunity to remain hidden. It keeps your approach outside of your opponent’s radar and visual detection
envelopes. The lag pursuit allows you the most time to assess the situation as the pursuit continues. Should the intercept go wrong, it is the
best of the three angles if you have to start thinking in terms of disengagement. A simple roll is all it takes to make your escape.
EARLY TURN
The Early turn is a conversion maneuver designed to put you on your opponent’s tail from an
initial head-on aspect. It is an extremely tricky maneuver to execute. It requires a keen sense of timing
and a high degree of spatial orientation. The secret is being able to anticipate your opponent’s actions
at the merge. As shown in the diagram, an F-22 and EF-2000 are on a collision course. The F-22
pilot anticipates that the EF-2000 is going to turn into him and begins a hard right turn of his own.
The affect of this early turn is that the F-22 has gotten the jump on its opponent. Its nose is already
swinging around as the enemy aircraft passes by it.
In several more seconds, the F-22 will be neatly situated in the EF-2000’s “six o’clock” ready to
execute a guns or IR missile attack at close range. The EF-2000’s pilot has only a couple options. If
his airspeed is high, he can opt for a vertical disengagement, but that comes with problems of it’s
own. He could also continue his right turn and hope to cut inside the F-22’s turn radius. But the most
likely response open to him is to reverse himself and attempt a horizontal break to the left. Should he
in fact choose this option, he will be initiating what’s called a One Circle Fight.
ONE CIRCLE FIGHT
A One Circle Fight is a very common situation that occurs after two opposing, non-advantaged aircraft meet at the merge. As shown in the
diagram, if one pilot decides to break left and the other pilot decides to break right they are in effect creating a large circle in sky. One good
thing about these fights is that both aircraft are banked canopy to canopy so that both can keep an eye on the other. Whatever happens, they
can see it coming and neither will be surprised. Another thing in your favor is the F-22, with its vectored thrust, does very well in these fights.
F-22
EF-2000
Early
Turn
4
TACTICS
The bad thing about this type of engagement is that it soon becomes a series of smaller and smaller
turns. Both pilots will be trying to turn inside the other in an attempt to be the first to get off a shot. If
you enter one of these engagements flying above or below your corner velocity, quit this fight
immediately. These are affairs of angles, not speed. Being able to turn sharply is more valuable to you
than being able to turn fast.
TWO CIRCLE FIGHT
A Two Circle Fight is very different from the preceding
engagement. Participants are presented with an entirely new set of
tactical problems. Like One Circle Fights, these battles occur when
two opposing non-advantaged fighters meet at the merge but here is
where any similarities end. As shown in the diagram, Two Circle Fights
result when the pilots involved meet at the merge and decide to turn in
the same direction (i.e. they both break to the right for example.)
Although the object is to convert a head-on pass into a tail chase
situation, Two Circle Fights take place at much higher speeds than One Circle Fights. This is because
both pilots are attempting to be the first to bring the nose of their aircraft to bear on their opponent. The
physical size of a Two Circle Fight is twice that of the former so missile combat is a viable option. Look for
an opportunity to fire a sidewinder across the figure eight. Visibility will be a problem because you are not
turning canopy to canopy with the enemy. You’ll lose sight of the other pilot throughout most of the turn.
CO-OPERATIVE BRACKET
Most air to air tactics involve the efforts of both a flight leader and his wingman. The Cooperative Bracket attack is representative of exactly this type of multiple aircraft collaboration. It can
be used quite successfully with both computer controlled wingman and other human players.
The objective of the Co-Op Bracket attack is to get the enemy to commit himself to attacking
either you or your wingman. Once this happens, the enemy is open to being engaged by the other F-
22. As you can see in the diagram, you and your wingman should laterally separate by at least three
to five nautical miles. As the enemy closes to within missile range, it should become apparent which
of you will be the target of his attack. The “free” fighter (i.e. the one not being targeted) should
quickly maneuver on the attacking aircraft’s “six o’clock.” If the enemy presses his attack, he risks
certain destruction at the hands of the free fighter.
This tactic can be performed when playing with a wingman being flown by your computer. The
trick is to lock the enemy on your radar then direct your wingman to attack it. As your wingman
MiG-29
MiG-29
F-22
F-22
F-22
One Circle
Fight
MiG-29
MiG-29
F-22
F-22
F-22
Two Circle
Fight
MiG-29
F-22
Free Fighter Engaged Fighter
3-5 Miles
Wingman
MiG-29
Co-Op
Bracket
5
TACTICS
moves into a head-on closure position, fire up the afterburner in your F-22 and affect a 3 to 5 mile lateral offset. The enemy will invariably
be forced to engage your wingman while you maneuver to get behind him. With luck, you’ll get off a missile before the enemy takes a shot
at your wingman.
SCISSORS
A Scissors fight is one of the most dangerous maneuvers a pilot can find himself caught up in. It involves a
series of break turns between opposing aircraft each attempting to force the other to overshoot. Naturally, both
aircraft will have to be performing at the peak of their turning abilities while at the same time making enormous
demands on their respective energy states. As you can see by the diagram, a scissors fight gets its name from
the peculiar shape it takes on when viewed from above. It is dangerous because the aircraft cross paths
repeatedly throughout the maneuver.
Use your speed brake to hold you at corner velocity while keeping your engine thrust high. Flaps are also
advisable. You’ll want to generate lift to keep you in the fight while at the same time slowing down to cause the
overshoot. The first pilot to get in the other’s rearward arc will win a scissors battle. But this maneuver cannot go
on indefinitely. Sooner or later, one or the other aircraft will have to disengage or stall itself out of the fight. It’s
better to disengage with some energy remaining rather than wait until the last moment and stall. If you feel the
need to disengage from a scissors fight, wait until the enemy is in the middle of an outward turn, then roll into a
Split S and separate. By the time your opponent notices your maneuver and reacts, you will be long gone
OFFENSIVE TACTICS
MISSILE COMBAT
The introduction of the air-to-air missile (AAM) opened a new chapter in the annals of 20th century air combat. Back in WW II, radar
made it possible to see things far away but it wasn’t until a decade later that the missile would make it possible to kill things far away. Now,
instead of dogfighting wing tip to wing tip, aircraft are equipped with weapons designed to fight “dot wars.” In other words, the enemy only
needs to appear as a “dot” or blip on your radar. You don’t need to actually see an enemy aircraft before you blast it with a missile.
The F-22 is equipped with two different types of AAM missiles; Infrared (or heat seeking) and radar guided missiles. Refer to the F-22
Lightning 3 user manual for specifications and operating instructions for these two weapons. Keep in mind however, that enemy aircraft
you encounter are similarly equipped. The only advantage you may have over them is the personal skill you bring to each engagement.
RADAR GUIDED MISSILES
The radar-guided missile is a medium to long ranged weapon. It gives both you, and the enemy pilots you encounter the ability to make
BVR (beyond visual range) kills. This is the essence of dot wars, being able to target, engage, and destroy enemy aircraft that you can’t
EF-2000 F-22
Scissors Fight
6
TACTICS
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