Possum

Once you go 1-circle, yes. I liked to get my nose as high as I could get it without getting too slow. You have to know what direction the fight is going, and then try not to go there. Vertical gets the speed down and adds a positional advantage.

1. Yes. 2. As far as you need to not dork up your first pass. Usually departure end of the runway. 3. 15 seconds -1sec for every knot of headwind (kind of). If there’s a 15 knot wind, I’d still give it a couple of potatoes past the box, otherwise you’ll be tight.

To truly fly at max conserve, you have to keep the thumbwheel rolled forward to keep them from deploying. Once the deploy, you’ll have to add power to overcome the drag. So, it’s better to fly a few knots above and keep them in.

A/B models were fitted with NVG lighting. Before VDIG-R, the VDI still required a separate filter to be placed over it, but the rest of the lighting was compatable.

Can’t speak to the sim, but i found the Tomcat performed best in a 1 circle fight (or, I flew the 14 best in a 1 circle fight), so I pushed it there. The key is to think of it as down range travel, and the first to get there loses. So, when transitioning to 1-circle, get your nose away from down range, and remember altitude is your friend. It takes time to develop recognition, but you have to develop an awareness for when to perform and energy depleting pull, and when to perform an energy efficient pull. When in doubt, put your lift vector on them and pull. Collapse the distance, unless you find yourself defensive and are trying to create angles to bug. Learn to fly and control the aircraft at it minimum controllable speed without tipping over the edge. It’s better to be a few knits fast and to keep turning, than it is to get too slow and have to dump the nose to get knots back. Try it out, and post specific questions. Mostly just practice.

The same thumbwheel controls DLC and maneuver flaps, but they are not the same thing.

Is the flap position the same in both instances? The outboard spoiler module is not powered on the ground with the flaps up.

You’re right that it only really works slow. It depends on where you are on the power curve. If you try to use backside technique on the front side, it’ll be confusing. When you’re on speed, power for altitude works. As others said, in reality though, you’ll still “influence” the nose to reduce the lag time.

It depends on your airspeed when you break. To look good for all those on deck admiring your form, you want the wings swept throughout the break. You’ll need 400kts to do it, 450 is more comfortable. If you come in too slow, you’re not going to be able keep them swept at idle w/SB. Use speed breaks as needed and adjust your pull as needed to be hitting 300kts no earlier than your last 30-40° of turn. If you’re a little slow in the break, float the early part of the turn and leave the power set. Then with 90° of turn to go, squat the jet with a good pull and get the wings moving. Make sure the speed brakes are out on downwind if you didn’t need them in the turn.

Waiting for 3 sec LTE?

Your have to me much more disciplined with your scan when you don’t have a FPM/VV. Reticle placement changes with power and airspeed adjustments, so you’re always adjusting. VSI has to be integrated into your scan. When maintaining an altitude, VSI will be your first indication of deviation.

You set the 2 digit code with the rotary knob. I’m not sure where the code is listed.

Are you holding PLM until it locks? Is it maybe outside the Aim-9 acquisition area? What time are you hearing?

Flaps up for max conserve because of the increased the drag.

For max conserve, you want to be just above where the maneuver flaps deploy, which is usually slightly above 10 units. If you’re doing it right, they will start to come down every time you hit a bump. But dont let them deploy, they burn gas. Use your DLC wheel to keep them up if you get a little too slow. For max range, about 8.5 units.

Try commanding the switch to pulse earlier. If the target approaches the MLC, it will drop the STT and will revert to search mode. Switch to pulse when the target aspect approaches 45°, and see if that does it.

Look at your control surface position indicator and activate DLC.

AOA indexer turned up bright, and trim.

Right, and calls from the RIO around the turn. That would be briefed as each pilot had his own tastes. I usually wanted VVI and knots to lose when rolling wings level in the groove.

By weapons delivery, I assume you mean A to A? Dive angle is crucial for air to ground deliveries, I don’t remember it being like that. If my memory is correct the horizon line was usually about 1° above the horizon in the HUD, not 5° below. In the VDIG-R, they were calibrated. I agree about turning it off for landing.

Why is the the +5º pitch line in the HUD on the horizon? When level, the VV was pretty close to the 5º line, and I noticed that there was a miscompare between the HUD and ADI. What are you using for your scan?