The last time i went away it was for a month and i made a similar thread with a question/riddle thingy in it. This time i am going away for 6 months ergo the 6 billion dollar question.
Anyways the aim is simple. Whoever gets it first wins. I will be back on in 6 months to read (hopefully) the correct answer.
As being a pilot is such a big part of my life i thought it appropriate to think of a tough, but answerable question on an air force related subject.
The question is....
If two Harrier GR7s came up against two MiG 29s, in a within visual range dogfight, what are the two possible techniques the harrier pilots should employ, with regards to the lead pilot and the wingman?
It may seem hard and thats because it is. I dont really expect people to get the correct answers to this question but i will be back around late May to see if someone has got it.
In the meantime good luck with answering the question and bye for 8 months!
If two Harrier GR7s came up against two MiG 29s, in a within visual range dogfight, what are the two possible techniques the harrier pilots should employ, with regards to the lead pilot and the wingman?
hey,i get it. military officers dont have enought brains to answer this question, that is why they asking us. cause its a really serious problem for warguys
i dont know much about airplanes but im guessing tell the wingmen to disengage then will doing a barrel roll shoot 2 missles at the approaching fighters wingmen then tell your wingmen to come back around and shoot 1 missle each at the leader...idk i guess
People found the question too hard. I posted the answer on page 2. This thread should probably be locked now but for people who are too lazy to look back here is the answer again.
The first technique is relatively simple but very effective with 2-3rd generation aircraft, but it still works on the MiG 21 very well.
It is known as the trail formation or battle to hook
Even though they are two separate formations they are relatively similar and i would have given someone a tick for getting one of them, so this answer counts for one of the techniques.
In trail the lead would fly at around 15000 ft and look up with his radar. The wingman would fly higher normally at around 25000 ft and look down. The high flying pilot (wingman) would then wait for the two enemy aircraft to engage the low flying pilot (lead) and swoop in to fire on them from their 6 ocklock position.
In battle the 2 harriers would fly side by side, one of the aircraft running straight down the throat of the flight and the other approaching on a parrallel heading but off to the side. With the enemy aircraft distracted by the pilot flying straight at him the wingman can hook in at the last moment and attack from the beam before the enemy has time to appreciate he is there. Then the enemy wingman, normally at higher altitude can be dealt with, usin either battle or trail techniques respectively.
The second technique is a little more complicated, the reason being it can only be used on specific aircraft such as the MiG29 for specs reasons.It carries a dopplar PD radar system. Their weakness is also their strength. It gives them their look down shoot down capabilities, because their signal processing system filters out stationary objects. It gives speed, range and bearing of all objects, however if the hharrrier pilot can stop moving relative to the sweep of the radar beam then you are able to drop off the radar. The radar can measure anything moving forward or backwards to near perfect prescision, but if you move at a 90 degree angle to the beam then it is possible to become invisible.
Now that the radars explained here is how you would fight.
The two harriers would need to split up the MiGs as they would easily kill a harrier in a 2 on 1 dogfight so the lead wold fly at 5000 feet and the wingman at around 30000ft. Both harriers would aim to fly att eh 90 degree angle. Whoever is successful first then peels off and rengages with the next MiG. It is a very risky tactic but it does work.
I know what people will say, how did you expect us to get that? and you are right, i apologise.
In depth study!!! 1. The most obvious limitation is the aircraft�s limited internal fuel capacity of 3500-kg (4400 kg with a centreline tank). We have no air-to-air refuelling capability, and our external tank is both speed and manoeuvre limited. We also have only a limited number of tanks. 2. There is poor discrimination between targets flying in formation, and we can�t lock onto the target in trail, only onto the lead. 3. We have a very limited range, especially at high speed and low altitudes, and are limited to 540-kt with external fuel.
The Harriers Hide behind a mountain or something then surprise the MiG's from behind. They could manovuer around tough obstacles that the MiG's could not get through and keep doing that until they get a lock on.
They could do this as they can Hover and go vertical but it uses up a lot of fuel - sadly !
