AIR COMBAT COMMAND (ACC) MULTI-COMMAND HANDBOOK 11-F16 AIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMAND (AETC) VOLUME 5 NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU (NGB) EFFECTIVE DATE: 10 MAY 1996 PACIFIC AIR FORCES (PACAF) UNITED STATES AIR FORCES IN EUROPE (USAFE) Before printing this document, highlight the table of Flying Operations contents and hit F9 to update the page numbers. F-16 COMBAT AIRCRAFT FUNDAMENTALS This handbook provides F-16 pilots a single-source, comprehensive document containing fundamental employment procedures and techniques that may be used to accomplish the various missions of the F-16. This handbook is the primary F-16 fighter fundamentals reference document for Air Combat Command (ACC), Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), Air Force Reserve (USAFR), Air National Guard (ANG), and Air Education and Training Command (AETC). The procedures and techniques are presented for pilot consideration in planning and are not for regulatory purposes. Other procedures and techniques may be used if they are safe and effective. This handbook applies to ANG units when published in ANGIND2. Designed to be used in conjunction with MCM 3–1 (S) and AFI/MCI 11-series directives, this handbook addresses basic flying tasks and planning considerations for both the air-to-air and air-to-surface arenas. It presents a solid foundation on which effective tactics can be developed. This handbook is not designed to be used as a step-by-step checklist of how to successfully employ fighters, but rather provides information and guidelines on basic procedures and techniques. NOTE: Contact HQ ACC/DOT before releasing this document to a foreign government or contractor. Supersedes MCM 3-3 Volume 5, 1 September 1992 Certified by: HQ ACC DOT (Col Thomas G. Sullivan) HQ AETC/XO (Maj Gen Donald L. Peterson) NGB/XO (Col John W. Gorman) HQ PACAF/DO (Maj Gen John M. McBroom) HQ USAFE/ADO (Col Victor E. Renuart, Jr.) OPR: HQ ACC/DOT (Maj Michael K. Updike) Pages: 295 / Distribution: F Approved by: HQ ACC/ADO (Col D. L. Johnson) Chapter One—INTRODUCTION 8 1.1. OVERVIEW.....................................................................................................................................8 1.2. PURPOSE........................................................................................................................................8 1.3. CHANGE PROCEDURES ...................................................................................................................8 Chapter Two—PREPARATION 8 2.1. INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................................8 2.2. ESTABLISHING PRIORITIES..............................................................................................................8 2.3. PRIORITIZING TASKS ......................................................................................................................9 2.4. PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................................................9 2.5. PHYSIOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................................................9 2.6. MISSION OBJECTIVES ...................................................................................................................10 2.7. MISPRIORITIZATION .....................................................................................................................11 2.8. SITUATION AWARENESS ...............................................................................................................11 2.9. FLIGHT LEADERSHIP ....................................................................................................................11 2.10. WINGMAN RESPONSIBILITIES......................................................................................................11 2 MCH 11-F16 Vol 5 10 May 1996 2.11. MISSION PREPARATION ..............................................................................................................11 2.12. DEBRIEFING...............................................................................................................................13 Chapter Three—FORMATION 13 3.1. BASIC FORMATION.......................................................................................................................13 3.2. TACTICAL FORMATION.................................................................................................................19 3.3. TWO-SHIP FORMATIONS...............................................................................................................24 3.4. FOUR-SHIP FORMATIONS..............................................................................................................27 3.5. THREE-SHIP FORMATIONS ............................................................................................................31 3.6. TACTICAL TURNS.........................................................................................................................32 Chapter Four—AIR–TO–AIR 36 4.1. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................36 4.2. PREPARATION ..............................................................................................................................36 4.3. AIRCRAFT HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS (AHC)...........................................................................36 4.4. WEAPON SYSTEMS CHECK............................................................................................................36 4.5. FENCE CHECK..............................................................................................................................37 4.6. PRINCIPLES/CONCEPTS OF BASIC FIGHTER MANEUVERS (BFM).....................................................39 4.7. OFFENSIVE BFM..........................................................................................................................60 4.8. DEFENSIVE BFM..........................................................................................................................69 4.9. HIGH ASPECT BFM......................................................................................................................77 4.10. AIR COMBAT MANEUVERS (ACM)..............................................................................................82 4.11. 2 V 1 DEFENSIVE VISUAL MANEUVERING ...................................................................................94 4.12. HIGH-ASPECT ACM.................................................................................................................104 4.13. INTERCEPTS.............................................................................................................................105 4.14. GUN EMPLOYMENT ..................................................................................................................110 Chapter Five—AIR–TO–SURFACE 119 5.1. THE AIR–TO–SURFACE MISSION.................................................................................................119 5.2. PREPARATION ............................................................................................................................120 5.3. AIR-TO-GROUND MISSION PLANNING.........................................................................................120 5.4. SURFACE ATTACK CHECKS.........................................................................................................123 5.5. INGRESS/EGRESS........................................................................................................................125 5.6. COMPUTED VISUAL BOMBING.....................................................................................................127 5.7. MANUAL WEAPONS DELIVERY ...................................................................................................135 5.8. TACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS ......................................................................................................146 5.9. STRAFE .....................................................................................................................................147 5.10. TAPE ASSESSMENT AND FOOT PRINT DATA ..............................................................................150 5.11. NONVISUAL BOMBING..............................................................................................................150 5.12. SYSTEM ALTITUDE ERRORS......................................................................................................159 5.13. CONTROLLED RANGE PATTERNS...............................................................................................164 5.14. POP-UP DELIVERIES .................................................................................................................172 5.15. POP-UP PLANNING ...................................................................................................................176 5.16. FLYING A TACTICAL POP-UP....................................................................................................180 5.17. POP-UP FORMULAS...................................................................................................................186 5.18. FLYUP ATTACKS ......................................................................................................................191 5.19. TWO SHIP EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERATIONS...............................................................................192