Scanning for enemies

[Gloom Demon]

What is the optimal way to scan for enemies?

 

Do you roll a bit and let the plane make a 360 degree turn while switching the radar cone up and down, waiting for the carets ?to make a full seep

 

Do you do that twice - once with High PRF and once with Medium?

 

It is quite often, that I loose sight of the enemy after merging and fail to locate him afterwards no matter what I do. Then - looking at the mission in Tacview I understand that I was searching in the right direction but didn't see the bogey anyway... Maybe a better tactic would be to disengage if I loose the bandit?

[=Mac=]

Vertical scan at the merge.

 

In the merge, you should be anticipating your bandit's moves. There are four ways he can go: (1) pull up high, (2) roll and pull low, (3), roll and pull at the same altitude, or (4) blow through.

 

You should be able to see him pull just as he snaps by allowing you to make your move on him.

 

There is a famous saying (at TopGun?), "Lose sight, lose the fight."

 

If you don't KNOW where he is, get the hell out of there.

 

If you are a wingie, talk to your lead. If YOU are lead, talk to your wingie. If you are 1v1, play chess. If you are 1v2, you already made a fatal mistake.

 

My two cents worth.

[McBlemmen]

If you are 1v1, play chess. If you are 1v2, you already made a fatal mistake.

 

 

This is great

[Stuge]

I don't think there's an optimal way to scan, everyone develops their own way.

 

Right after merge the eyeball is for me the best sensor.

 

If i merge but didn't see him, maybe i can hear him! Maybe i can hear if he's left or right, then start looking there.

 

With russian birds, vertical scan in T mode is a real winner if you don't know where to look, just turn around and roll around quickly, and you are sure to find anyone close. Don't forget to hold that lock button down!

 

F15 vertical scan is a bit slow and thus is better used to scan an area where you suspect the bandit is. (like across a ridgeline he went behind) if you don't know where to look, maybe the regular radar scan is best, even at close range. Remember it only covers a thin slice of air at close range so change the scan altitude frantically! :)

[Gloom Demon]

Right after merge the eyeball is for me the best sensor.

 

 

That's the problem - I don't own a TrackIR, so, after merging, I always loose eye contact... Maybe I should try looking into the Padlock view.

[Stuge]

That's the problem - I don't own a TrackIR, so, after merging, I always loose eye contact... Maybe I should try looking into the Padlock view.

 

Hat switch is the best :)

[Oberst Zeisig]

This method of guessing and estimating works also with bvr. So having a good scanning method is essential in this hot scenario of You and Your bandit closing in from 10 to say 5 nm. This is where 9 of 10 kills take place except for the 100 % pure sneaking kills.

Fire in TWS, scan Your bandit is he going down, left, right do Your evasive maneuver (esp. notch, ground, mountain) go offensive again, estimate where Your bandit is now and scan there with TWS in low PRF. It's faster due to the narrow scan zone and You know immediately bandits angels and heading.

 

This bvr-estimation is one of the things that need most practive of all, it's like finding a needle in a haystack while maneuvering close to the ground at M1 and 9g.