4.13 development update discussion and feedback

[Laurwin]

Best way to deal with tough manouvering AIs is to understand the following tips from real American F-16 pilot Pete Bonanni.

-BFM manouver is always flown "in the future" as it were. In order for a high yoyo to become effective, the bandit must fly according to your prediction of future.

Time happens on a different basis compared to BFM drawing on a piece of paper. Time happens in definite way, the present moment becomes the past, and this continues on and on. The definite version of future is always some kind of abstract assumption of future events. Future in the abstract becomes the present, and present becomes the past. etc...

When you deal with simple and short-term assumption of future event, this is always easier to define compared to long-term future event. When you look at a fast flying bandit, it follows that the bandit's turn circle is larger, therefore, the bandit will not be able to turn so easily... Fast flying bandit = more difficult for bandit to turn aircraft... G force limit of bandit pilot and bandit aircraft form a limitation to turning circles... This assumption derives itself from physics of inertia. But you still cannot exactly predict bandit's future course, you can only assume within certain parameters.

The F-16 modern gunsight operates on this similar kind of principles. EEGS Gunsight. Radar-gunsights should be theoretically better, because radar beams are light-speed, so it doesn't take very long time to find the target in the sky with the radar. But computer still must calculate the lead for the gunshot, at the end of the day, I think...

With WW2 gunsights it's the pilot himself who calculates the lead.

The only consistently possible way to dogfight, is to employ following measures.

1. observe bandit

2. predict bandit's future position

3. fly your aicraft based on this prediction of future.

4. if something changes, react to changes.

Those four lines form the so-called OODA loop by the way.

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by Laurwin

-BFM manouver is always flown "in the future" as it were. In order for a high yoyo to become effective, the bandit must fly according to your prediction of future.

This is very good advice in any dogfight, and clarifies comments by WW1 and WW2 aces about the necessity of instantly anticipating your opponent's intentions, position and energy state.

As G-forces go up and airspeed and altitude goes down, the number of maneuver options your opponent has goes down as well. That allows you to predict what they're going to do within certain parameters.

AI is often quite predictable in this regard, doing things like disengaging out to 2 Km and gaining 500 meters of altitude prior to coming in for another BnZ attack, or pulling up sharply when pursued, bleeding off energy and giving you a lovely close range, low deflection shot.