This article discusses another 1970s intercept technique. It is not as simple as the Sync-Z-Turn discussed previously, but it is still quite intuitive and easy to remember. The fulcrum of the manoeuvre lies in the name: “40° Cold of CATA at 25nm”. Yes, it’s a long name.
This article covers a helpful procedure to determine the Collision Antenna Train Angle (CATA) and the Bandit’s Heading without necessarily requiring a radar lockon. These parameters increment the crew’s SA, enabling intercept techniques and effective target engagement.
I know I said no more Sync-Z-Turn demos, but the beautiful Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29, was been mentioned in the comments. It is also a good chance to catch two Soviets with one stone, as both the Su-27 and the MiG-29 have similar avionics.
Eagle Dynamics has just released a new patch possibly addressing a major issue I raised last month: the reaction of an AI formation targeted by missiles.
This is the very first look at the new behaviour, using the same mission.
This is the last demo showing how the principles on which the Sync-Z-Turn is based can be easily applied to almost any aircraft, making this a neat manoeuvre to add to any crew’s bag of tricks. Here is the MiG-21bis “Fishbed”.
Another Sync-Z-Turn-based test. This time from the perspective of the F-5E-3 Tiger II.
FlyAndWire 