Pop-up Bombing

The second method for delivering bombs is the low-level or pop-up approach.

If there are no enemy fighters around, approaching the target at approximately 1000 feet may give you some protection from radar-guided SAMs. The missiles should pass right over you. Flying at this altitude takes constant attention, though, since turbulence will constantly buffet your craft. A pop-up bombing checklist should read like this:

• Check that you're at 100 percent power.
• Place the NAV cursor over your target. Line up on the NAV indicator on the target screen.
• Set your radar to medium-range scale.
• Descend to 1000 feet and arm bombs (1).
• When target appears on radar, immediately climb to 2000 feet (2).
• When you reach 2000 feet, or blue target indicator appears on the heads-up display, start a 30° or 40° dive (whatever it takes to place the pipper in the triangle) and release bombs (3).
• At this point you can return to the 1000-feet level to attack another target or light the afterburners and head for home or the safety of high altitude (4).

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Use this pop-up bombing technique when you want to fly in under the enemy's radar.

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