19 June 2007

Bomber Training

For this demonstration I am aiming at the large water tank in the town.]
When approaching the target I like to have a minimum of 5k altitude above it. Of course if there are enemies defending it you ideally want to come in above them so they don't harass you. I come in with the target slightly off the nose to the left or right. As I near the target I tip the wing over slightly to get a visual of the target and make sure I'm lined up [1]. As I close in I tip the wing over again to see if I am over the target yet [2]. When I think I am over the target I again tip the wing over to aquire sight of the target [3]. I cut throttle to prevent gaining too much speed on the dive and roll inverted over the target keeping it insight [4]. I roll 180 degrees to get heads up while keeping the target in my view and line up the target [5]. I make any final adjustments and drop my bomb with enough altitude for the bomb to arm and the pull up to prevent an auger [6]. When releasing the bomb wait a moment after release for the bomb to separate cleanly before your pullout.
[ Refer to Dive Angle graphic. I couldn't rotate the graphic the way I wanted unfortunately. ]
It's better to have a steep dive angle of approximately 70 or 80 degrees [A] opposed to a shallower angle of say 45 degrees [X]. For accuracy you want to 'fly' the bomb onto the target [B] opposed to having it drop away [Y] which is closer to a level bomb drop than a dive bombing attack. This lets you aquire the target and see the impact area [C] opposed to dropping 'blind' with the impact area under the nose and out of sight [Z].
[ Refer to Bomb Hardpoints graphic. ]
Remember that planes have their bombs mounted in different positions. This can adversely effect your planes handling if you release a single bomb at a time. Planes with their bombs mounted closer to it's centerline do not suffer as bad as planes that have the bombs located farther out on the wing.