Question
I am in a fighter jet, and I need to shoot down another fighter jet. How can I calculate how to do this?
Answer
The modern theory of fighter combat is based on energy. It's called energy-maneuverability theory and a lot of it has been systematized. The work was done by John Boyd, flight instructor at Nellis, in the 50s, and refined in the 60s and 70s. He is best known for his later-life generalization of the ideas for all kinds of real-time decision-making with his famous OODA loop, which is now influential in combat at all levels and in all services. So you could say all fighting is now dogfighting to some extent.
The basic principle is to think in terms of exchanging potential and kinetic energy, rather than "moves." Modern fighters since the F-15 have been designed on this principle to have greater capability than enemy aircraft they might encounter.
How you precisely shoot down another aircraft depends on the "merge" conditions (PE, KE, velocity vectors at the start of the encounter), relative capabilities and fuel levels of each, weaponry, and skills.
Classic dogfighting basically started becoming irrelevant during Vietnam, as radars grew capable of tracking more objects and missiles steadily improved. Many encounters today can be expected to be determined at the BVR (beyond visual range) stage itself by missiles.
The science is now advanced enough that unmanned fighters can realistically beat humans under many conditions. Their E-M advantages are basically unbeatable. These programs are the future, though the first UCAV didn't get to the field.
Some of the Top Gun scenes are actually quite realistically choreographed.
If you're asking mainly to play video games or something, the two basic rules are to keep gaining altitude advantages whenever you can, and focus on getting on the opponent's "six o' clock" to line up a shot. Details depend on the specifics of the situation as described above.
The basic principle is to think in terms of exchanging potential and kinetic energy, rather than "moves." Modern fighters since the F-15 have been designed on this principle to have greater capability than enemy aircraft they might encounter.
How you precisely shoot down another aircraft depends on the "merge" conditions (PE, KE, velocity vectors at the start of the encounter), relative capabilities and fuel levels of each, weaponry, and skills.
Classic dogfighting basically started becoming irrelevant during Vietnam, as radars grew capable of tracking more objects and missiles steadily improved. Many encounters today can be expected to be determined at the BVR (beyond visual range) stage itself by missiles.
The science is now advanced enough that unmanned fighters can realistically beat humans under many conditions. Their E-M advantages are basically unbeatable. These programs are the future, though the first UCAV didn't get to the field.
Some of the Top Gun scenes are actually quite realistically choreographed.
If you're asking mainly to play video games or something, the two basic rules are to keep gaining altitude advantages whenever you can, and focus on getting on the opponent's "six o' clock" to line up a shot. Details depend on the specifics of the situation as described above.