Dive for Separation for Missile Shot

Situation: You're in a very close, hard-turning fight. You're too close for a missile shot, but you can't line up your hard-maneuvering opponent for a gun shot. This maneuver puts distance between the two of you for a better chance at a missile hit.

Maneuver:

• Bank hard and try to pull inside the enemy's turn (1).
• Roll inverted, pull back on the stick, and dive (2).
• Keep the stick pulled back until you pull out of the dive. Locate the enemy aircraft and fire a short-range missile (3).

(figure)

Another way to separate from the enemy (and thus have enough distance to use a missile) is to dive away before firing.

Return to: Starfighter Combat - Offensive Maneuvers