Hell EAF…Tell me your thoughts on this post from my wingman MOH_SODA, who developed a lot of the squads engagement SOP and mutual support doctrine.
[b]MOH_Soda original Post was Mar 7, 2005 - 6:39 PM
Soda screwed up big time; he left the marshall point without a wingman, got bounced by two BANs & is now in a one vs. two equal energy fight at 6000 ft. (2000m, +/-).
so i put out the call:
“engaged defensive with two 109’s co-alt, angels 6 Charlie 3-4”.
“copy soda, omw” is a great comfort, but what i really want to know is how long till help gets here & from what direction.
well, i’m not the brightest light in the house & have trouble looking at the map or doing math when fighting two nasty K-4’s, so it’s up to my mates to give me the information i need.
thank god, JUDGE & STORM are flying SpitMkVIII’s & are in pre-engaged formation at angels 20 (6k) in Bravo 3-7. here’s the call I get from them in response:
“copy soda, two in 55 seconds from heading 290.”
did they just whip out their calculators & figure all that out?
no, they just had done their homework & used some general knowledge they have.
here’s what they knew:
map coordinates are divided into 10k x 10k grids (6.2 x 6.2 miles).
300 kph/60sec = 5k per minute (185mph/60sec = 3.1miles per minute)
450kph/60sec = 7.5k per minute (280mph/60sec = 4.6 miles per minute)
600kph/60sec = 10k per minute (375mph/60sec = 6.2 miles per minute).
per FOX’s latest speed tests: SpitMkVIII
max dive speed 830kph (575mph).
max level speed 500kph (310mph).
so before they even got in their planes they knew the MkVIII is able to travel 10k in 60 seconds or less if they can dive. in level flight it will take them almost 90 seconds to cover same 10k. if they need to climb they can roughly figure 120 seconds to climb 6000 ft (2000m) in the same 10k. (hehe, they have also tested MkVIII climb rate).
so, getting back to the response call they made:
they knew they were a little more than 10k north of due west my position. the heading call was an approximate heading from me to them. i can see my heading at a glance, & will try move the fight toward them if possible, further reducing their intercept time.
because they were above me they figured with a shallow dive they would be able cover the 10k plus distance in less than 60 seconds & still enter with an energy advantage.
they know my spit cannot out run the 109’s, but guessed that I would position myself to try an short extension to the southwest (perpendicular to their ingress course & towards friendly territory) in about 45 seconds. they also knew most 109 pilots are clever buggers & would try hard to prevent me from going toward home, so knew to also look for the optional extension to the northeast. either way, their heart rate went up in anticipation of seeing a couple 109’s in drag.
unfortunately i woke up before the engagement ended so can’t tell you what happened, but i can tell you it’s damn fun to fly with these two cadets, even if they don’t always listen.
Know your plane.
PALADINS, there are a number of new “Know Your Plane” posts in with similar topics in PALADINS Forum if interested in further babbling from soda.
aloha gentlemen, S~
… soda[/b]