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[Cheb]

Ok I'm an idoit. But what is the Cobra manuever used for? Or is it just aerobatic anominally?

How is it performed properly(explain)?

[Cheb]

Ok I'm an idoit. But what is the Cobra manuever used for? Or is it just aerobatic anominally?

How is it performed properly(explain)?

[Grave2002]

Read here: http://aeroweb.lucia.it/~agretch/RAFAQ/cobra.html

To perform this manuever in Lomac, fly between 250-450km, level or banking(it doesnt matter). Press "K" and pull the stick on yourself, the aircraft will raise itself and quickly lose speed. Then bring the stick forward and continue in normal flight.

[erorr404]

The "K" disables the AOA limiter. And no you cannot realistically do the cobra maneuver in Lomac since the maneuver is scripted.

[This message was edited by Grave2002 on Fri December 26 2003 at 07:39 AM.]

[Grave2002]

Sorry error404, I clicked "Reply with Quote" and it edited your post instead.

An answer to your question: The "K" disables the AOA limiter. And no you cannot realistically do the cobra maneuver in Lomac since the maneuver is scripted.

[Guris]

When the so-called "cobra maneuver", actually the real name is "Pugachev's Cobra" named after the lead test pilot who developed the maneuver, was first displayed...Paris 1990 or thereabouts, it caused quite a stir.
Speculation ran rampant about how this maneuver could be utilized to break a Doppler radar's lock. It was also speculated that this maneuver could be used to slow the aircraft down quickly and thus pose a threat within the close-in dogfight.
Others were quick to point out that no pilot would permit his aircraft to slow down that much in the middle of a dogfight since it would make him an easy target.
Whatever the speculation, folks should remember that plenty of money was dumped into the X-32 which researched extreme high a-o-a flight. The X-32 was pitted against an F-18 Hornet and it proved too much for the F-18...winning every single mock engagement.
So...if the Su-27 could do this as a front line fighter...and subsequent variants added vectored thrust, coupled with helmet mounted sights that provided the AA-11 Archer missiles extreme off-boresight engagements...then its not just an airshow maneuver. Granted...it hasn't been used in combat...yet...but I'm sure that many pilots would like to know that their bird can push the envelope if need be.

[erorr404]

hmm, i personally do not think it can be used effectively in combat. can someone try to prove me wrong or just show me an example of the use of the cobra during a dogfight?

[BIOLOG]

Yep. Imagine, you r flying a Su-27 and got F-15 on you tale. You try turning and coming on his tale, but he is darn good and keeps 90 degree ange, denying missile lock for you and himself... distance between you is about 400m and you r at 500m altitude... You continue turning, and then, at certain point (there is a criteria which I follow, to ensure good shot) you cobra, and you get about 2 sec window to launch your archer... SHLEM mode really helps in this one...
Another use is to complete your loop, but you need to be very good to prevent plane from going back... Or stalling, lol

[Guris]

That's called the "J-Hook" maneuver done by the X32 (or 31...can't remember). Quite effective in close in dogfights.

[britgliderpilot]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Guris:
That's called the "J-Hook" maneuver done by the X32 (or 31...can't remember). Quite effective in close in dogfights.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That would be 31 - the X32 was the losing contender in the JSF competition.

I have only ever seen a cobra work once in online dogfighting . . . because I was fighting someone new at the time, and was sitting lazily on his six lining up a shot, not paying enough attention . . .

The rest of the time, it just offers a very large, very stationary target.


The Hook gives you a better angle for a missile shot - at the expense of all your airspeed. I wouldn't be using that in combat.