2D Tactical Vector Arena • HUD Aspect Overlay
Offensive Advantage Secured
EVENT: Apex Roll-In
MANEUVER: vertical_pitch_climb
SPECIFIC EXCESS POWER
142.5 FT/S
CORNER AIRSPEED
385 KNOTS
INSTANTANEOUS TURN RADIUS
2480 FEET
ENERGY RETENTION
78.4%
BOYD ENERGY-MANEUVERABILITY (Ps)
F/A-18C vs MiG-29
COUNTERFACTUAL FLIGHT PARAMETERS
6.8 G
100% MIL
+1.2 s
TOPGUN / MAWTS-1 4-Stage Debrief Engine
COMPLETE (4/4)
“Rank doesn't matter in that room. The sequence is unforgiving in the best way: establish facts, analyze why, put the tape up, then teach the fix so it never happens again.”
— Tim Miller, USMC LtCol (Ret.), TOPGUN / MAWTS-1 Instructor
01. OBJECTIVE FLIGHT FACTS
VERIFIED
Merge at 15,000 ft, entry 420 kts. Pitch climb initiated at 6.8G into High-Yo-Yo vertical apex. Target aspect angle held at 35°, turning radius compressed from 3,200 ft to 2,480 ft. Telemetry captured without pilot bias.
02. ROOT CAUSE CLASSIFICATION
EXECUTION DRIFT
Category: execution_drift.
Tactical blueprint was sound (vertical out-of-plane lag pursuit), but pilot initiated nose-down roll-in 1.2s prematurely, burning specific excess power (+142.5 ft/s vs optimum +180 ft/s) and narrowing weapon window.
Tactical blueprint was sound (vertical out-of-plane lag pursuit), but pilot initiated nose-down roll-in 1.2s prematurely, burning specific excess power (+142.5 ft/s vs optimum +180 ft/s) and narrowing weapon window.
03. TACTICAL TAPE & ERROR EXTRACTION
DIAGNOSED
Tape scrutiny at T+4.5s: Lift vector unloaded prematurely at apex. Excess G bled kinetic airspeed to 365 kts before gravity assisted recovery. Bandit pulled across nose with 28 kts closure advantage.
04. CODIFIED ACTIONABLE FIX
CODIFIED
Standardized pilot mandate codified for next tournament sortie:
Delay apex roll-in by 1.2s to prevent overshooting the bandit's lift vector.
SFL SORTIE COMBAT GRADE
F/A-18C Hornet • Arena OTS-1
89
/100
Energy Management (Boyd Ps Index)
22/25
Aspect Angle Discipline (WEZ entry)
23/25
Tactical Geometry & Vector Control
21/25
Debrief Rigor & Codified Standard
23/25