Air Combat Instruction Books

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

I'm seeing a fair number of people asking for assistance with air combat or refreshers for some returning to the genre. I, as others, strongly recommend Requiems videos. I also recommend the old YouTube videos by Dart for '46.

 

What I haven't seen are recommendations for books. These are some of the ones I've read. They are all pretty good. All are available from Amazon.

 

Air Combat Maneuvers is probably the best for beginners as it is both well written and well illustrated. If you have recommendations please post below and where it can be obtained.

 

 

In Pursuit: A Pilot's Guide to Online Air Combat - Johan Kylander

 

Air Combat Manoeuvres: The Technique and History of Air Fighting for Flight Simulation - J Steve Thompson

 

Check Six: A Virtual Pilot's Guide - J Steve Thompson

 

Fighter Combat: Tactics and Maneuvering - Robert L Shaw

Edited December 10, 2014 by HerrMurf

[oneeyeddog]

Thanks for posting.

[CorsairHundo]

Thanks, I was wanting to find this material.

 

 

 

Don

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

No problem. I'm hoping others post some hidden gems or web articles here as well.

[Sokol1]

 

 

In Pursuit: A Pilot's Guide to Online Air Combat - Johan Kylander

 

The freeware version in PDF:  http://www.virtualpilots.fi/en/feature/lento_ohjeet/inpursuit/inpursuit.pdf

 

A revised and expanded version of this manual is available on Amazon.

[Ice-]

I do have the Shaw book and I must say it is quite interesting.... 12-year-old me loved reading it for the pilot excerpts.  I guess present-day-me should re-read it and see if the other bits make more sense now.

[zardoz]

  Their was a book that was put out (many many) years ago...it was for some other Combat flight Simulator, Europe Series, (similar to the name of the book). It was written for THAT game, but all the rules of air combat still apply. It really was quite good (as an introduction)...and was my 1st introduction to "the deadly art". It was written by Ben Chiu. I think you can still find used copys.

 

This is not an endorsement of any other game, and is intended as information only...information to aid in getting the most from THIS game...

[Sokol1]

Ben CHiu Guide - for MS CFS (WW2 European Series) is available in Amazon:

 

http://www.amazon.com/MICROSOFT-COMBAT-FLIGHT-SIMULATOR-EUROPEAN/dp/B00108JA3Y

 

Has about 40 pages dedicated to "Air Combat Basics".

Edited December 23, 2014 by Sokol1

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

Well, if we are going back that far, my first air combat manual was the old Air Warrior guide. Was pretty useful back in the day but pales to the others already listed.

[Sokol1]

But all guide/books has his public, for someone this ~40 pages "Air Combat Basics" be Ben Chiu can be more useful than try read Shaw book. Quoting BMBM (In Pursuit):

 

"...a comfortable factual background gleaned from such outstanding works as “Boots” Blesse’s “No Guts, No Glory”, Robert “Mouse” Shaw’s “Fighter Combat: Tactics and Manoeuvring”, the “Bible” of

all sim pilots, and others too many to mention. While the “Bible” is certainly a worthwhile read and in nearly all aspects entirely relevant to our environment, it is nevertheless a tad dry

and not quite as accessible to the beginner virtual pilot as one might want. Furthermore, Shaw’s work is largely concentrated on the individual aspects of air combat. Some key

missing features which I hope to add here includes the psychology of online fighting and a look inside the opponents’ brains – the understanding of which are crucial for success. Ergo,

this attempt at writing a practical guide to air combat." 

 

At some stage (Warbirds Online times) I buy the Shaw book - took almost a half year to became  available and Amazon send me in some "corner of the world".

Years later I exchange the book for a... Apache Longbow copy (this exchange for some F-18 sim, that I don't play...).   

 

 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2014 by Sokol1

[zardoz]

Well...I actually have many more books on the subject, then just one book...and their is more then "40 pages" of useful information in that book... More subjects then just "maneuvers", can be useful or vital in air combat. Management of energy, and situation awareness, are two subjects that could fill volumes...however, if the intent of the book is to introduce someone to the concepts of "air combat", and the various factors that come into play. I still think that the above mentioned book is a decent starting place...the subjects of "situation awareness", energy, performance envelopes...are all introduced, along with "Boom and zoom" & "computing lead". Sometimes, cutting the information down to "readable chunks", is preferable to taking a textbook to bed...lol

 

            anyway...have fun!