Specialty Press

Air Combat Manoeuvers The Technique And History of Air Fighting for Flight Simulation

by  J. Steve Thompson with Peter C. Smith

Reviewed By  Rich Marchiafava, IPMS# 39230

MSRP: $27.95 ISBN: 978-1-903223-98-7 Website: www.specialtypress.com The world of dog fighting is reserved for only a few -- the best-of-the-best. Years ago the only way to understand dog fighting was to be lucky enough to speak with a pilot at an air show. Then, as time passed and technology improved, boom!, everybody had a computer. If you were into aircraft, you’d pick up a copy of Combat Flight Simulator, Lock-On or Falcon 4.0 and dreamed about being a combat aviator. Then you got the software home, installed it and started to fly -- then you got shot down by an enemy fighter. Okay, you restart the simulation and you’re doing good. You haven’t been shot down or crashed yet and you finally get an enemy in your sights when all of a sudden he rolls out or something and you’ve lost him…where did he go? Then you hear it. Yup, you’re taking enemy fire again. Bang!!! YOU’RE DEAD!!! Not all of us have a friend who is a fighter pilot and we have no where to turn and ask for help. Till now that is. Specialty Press has released a book about ACM -- air combat maneuvering. This book is very nicely done with a semi-hard, glossy cover and 255 pages of over 600 black-and-white and full-color pictures, illustrations, diagrams and text explaining the various maneuvers, tricks, tips and techniques in the world of dog fighting. The book has twelve chapters with a brief history of air fighting and is summed up at the end with a comparative performance table of aircraft. The book also covers some of the most decisive air battles in history (Normandy, Operation Ramrod 564). You learn about different types of attacks (head-on, boom and zoom), how to set up for attacks, fighting solo and with a wingman, the explanation and use of energy, turning , yo-yos and scissors maneuvers. It’s all here. This book is a must-have for every armchair dogfighter and every gamer and flight-simmer as well. I can tell you (from my own experience being the consummate armchair dogfighter that I am) this book has increased my basic airmanship and combat skills drastically. I would like to thank Marie Ray at Specialty Press and IPMS for my copy of this book.