By Brandt "Barbeque" Ryan, Falcon 4.0 Instructor Pilot

  Let's say that one of the Migs got smoked, but that the other one spoofed your missile, and is still in HOT on your flight.

In scenario #1, your flight is still in perfect formation because both members abided to the contract. The lead is still getting spiked by the remaining bandit, and calls for another Hook Turn back into the bandit. Once the flight gets turned around, they are IMMEDIATELY in position to make another action call, e.g. a pince.

They execute this maneuver in a timely fashion, keeping to their contract, and easily get a kill on the last bandit. The important thing here is that the flight remained in their formation throughout the fight, thus making it possible for them to react almost instantly. The reason they remained in position is because of the contract.

In scenario #2, your flight is NOT in proper position, and in fact, the wingy is completely blind (has no idea where his lead is, and is frantically trying to get some SA on the situation). Note here that this bad situation has developed during the first Hook Turn. The lead calls for the second Hook Turn back into the remaining bandit, and the wingy is now "tumbleweeds", or completely lost (he doesn't know where his lead is, OR where the bandit is.)

In the mean time, the Mig 19 has been in HOT on the wingy the entire time, and has converted to his six to achieve the kill. The lead realizes this situation a second too late, and can't do a thing about it.

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How did this happen? On the first Hook Turn, the wingy didn't hold to his contract. He did the turn at 500 knots, and pulled on his stick for all he was worth, throwing him WAY out of position on the initial turn. Then he did the same on the second Hook Turn, nearly passing the bandit that was in hot the whole time (and of course, he didn't even realize this.)

This example should reinforce the importance of formation flying -- in situation #1 the contract was upheld, and the good guys got an easy kill. In situation #2...well, does the phrase "strafe rag" come to mind?

It's really very simple. Without solid formation flying, and the contract, Air to Air maneuvers are useless.

Take a few hours to practice your tactical turns, and try to stay within the limits of the contract -- after a little practice, the turns become second nature to the point where you don't even have to think about it. The payoff is huge!

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