Jon S. Berndt wrote: >> but the point is that the pilots were definitely using >> the hovering capabilities in dogfights. >> >> Josh > > I don't mean to be picky, here, but given the context of this discussion, do > you really mean: "the pilots were definitely using the *thrust*vectoring* > capabilities in dogfights."
Yes. During forward flight they would set the nozzles to the full forward (100 degrees?) position and configure the plane as dirty as possible. Whoever was following them would overshoot and they would follow up with a heat seeking missile, at least that is how I have seen the maneuver described in several written accounts, on and off the internet. Just like a split S, or a yo-yo it's only purpose is to cause an overshoot. Or if this is what you mean, just because it's not used for attitude control, doesn't mean it's not thrust vectoring. When you change the position of the nozzles, you are changing the thrust vector, hence thrust vectoring. And it's not just a case of removing the forward thrust either, any plane can do that with the throttle. Harriers can put some thrust forward, and are even capable of flying backward. In fact, they have pretty meager brakes, and in the USMC the standard procedure for a rolling landing requires the use of reverse thrust for braking. I once read a hairy account of a disabled AV8B that had lost the use of it's wingtip nozzles due to a ruptured high pressure bleed duct. The pilot was forced to land with a war load on a short runway, and almost wrecked the plane off the back end of it. Josh ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Take Surveys. Earn Cash. Influence the Future of IT Join SourceForge.net's Techsay panel and you'll get the chance to share your opinions on IT & business topics through brief surveys - and earn cash http://www.techsay.com/default.php?page=join.php&p=sourceforge&CID=DEVDEV _______________________________________________ Flightgear-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/flightgear-users
