"Peter MacPherson" wrote in message
newshL8d.420077$8_6.33940@attbi_s04...
Why is it that when fighter pilots roll in on a ground or air
target they always seem to roll into an inverted dive? Is this
just my imagination? What's the benefit of an inverted dive?

Real fighter pilots can give a better answer. But when I've done the "air
combat" entertainment flights, the instructors have always told me that
standard procedure is to get your target above your canopy, and then pull
"up" on the elevator.

Any target on the ground would thus wind up being approached with an
inverted dive. An airborne target would only be approached in an inverted
dive if below you.

I presume that the primary benefit is that it's easier to take positive G's
than negative G's, and the idea is to get the nose of the plane pointing at
the target ASAP. That means maximum G's, and you want to be in a position
to deal with them safely and relatively easily.

I imagine that it's not actually true that a fighter pilot *always* uses
this procedure. But it is common enough that as a "fighter pilot for a
day", I've been instructed to use the technique as standard procedure.

Pete