Energy fighting in combat flight sims

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around energy fighting techniques in combat flight simulations, specifically focusing on the optimal methods for executing boom and zoom maneuvers while conserving energy. Participants explore the effects of friction and control surface responses during these maneuvers, as well as the mathematical modeling of forces involved.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the optimal way to dive and zoom in a combat flight scenario, emphasizing the importance of energy conservation.
  • Another participant notes that control surfaces do not provide "non-skid" responses and that there are delays influenced by various factors.
  • There is a discussion about the dependence of negative work from friction on the path taken and the need to minimize this negative work.
  • Participants express confusion regarding how friction changes when the plane alters direction and its dependence on velocity magnitude, suggesting that integration may be necessary for analysis.
  • A request is made for a simple model of friction force to aid in understanding the issue, proposing the use of two smooth functions to represent paths in a 2D region.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various perspectives on the complexities of modeling friction and energy conservation in flight maneuvers. There is no consensus on a specific approach or solution, and multiple viewpoints regarding the effects of control surfaces and friction remain present.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the potential complexity of integrating forces and the challenge of finding analytical solutions for all scenarios. The discussion also highlights the dependency on specific definitions of friction and energy conservation in the context of flight simulations.

VMP
Messages
25
Reaction score
3
Hello everyone, I have a question regarding energy fighting. Suppose you're flying a plane and you want to boom and zoom a target that is lower than you, flying at similar velocity. What is the optimal* way of diving and then zooming up again.

*optimal wrt energy conservation.

I'm aware of the fact that how much negative work friction does depends on the path, but what confuses me is that when the plane changes direction the force of friction changes, also iirc it depends on magnitude of velocity.

P.S. Don't be shy to throw in some math :) Cheers.
 
Science news on Phys.org
You are aware that control surfaces don't give you "non-skid" responses, that there are delay times that are functions of all sorts of things?
 
VMP said:
I'm aware of the fact that how much negative work friction does depends on the path,
Yes and you want to minimize that negative work.
VMP said:
but what confuses me is that when the plane changes direction the force of friction changes, also iirc it depends on magnitude of velocity.
That means you have to use integration, and might not find an analytical solution for all cases.
 
A.T. said:
Yes and you want to minimize that negative work.
That means you have to use integration, and might not find an analytical solution for all cases.

Well, I'm looking for a simple model of friction force that would give me intuition regarding the issue.

Suppose that the upper and lower bound of a 2D region is given by 2 smooth functions where these 2 functions represent paths, that would be good enough.

Cheers
 

Similar threads

Modeling Air Compression Cylinder
  • · Replies 45 ·
2
Replies
45
Views
7K
Quite a few phys 12 questions, on unit 3 dynamics,energy,work,power
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K