F15 / F22 Tactics

Here are some suggestions of what I have learned in the past 3 years, flying in my iF22v5.0 (from Interactive Magic):

About workarounds in iF22v5:

With some joysticks, probably, when landing or navigating, you have to release them after each movement, otherwise they will produce an undesired movement to the right. In my iF22v5, I found that, when flying Instant action, you have to activate chaff and flares ("V", "C", "F") to unstuck, when evading missiles the first time. Later, the flight computer will launch chaffs/flares automatically. Also, when flying in the Persian Gulf Campaign, if your plane explodes then save and continue.

About war tactics F15/F22:

When flying you have to be calm. If you feel that you are not going to be calm, then abort that attack and try another thing.

Order radio silence. When flying accross enemy SAMs, make sure you are not carrying external stores, don't open too often the bay doors, and avoid dangerous SAMs.

How to fly the aircraft: Pull on your joystick to turn. Get used to flying inverted or tilt. Also, maneuver "against the turn" (make half turn in the oppositte direction of your intended turn) to position yourself fast.

Missiles evasions: Keep radar range in 20-40 miles. Activate your Dog Fight MFD to see and determine close missiles. But make the brake turn when you hear your chaffs and flares being released (automatically). If there are two or more incoming missiles, evade the first one first putting the missile on your wing (pulling, remember?). Then you have to evade the second incoming missile: you are in bad position: turn the plane to head tottally downward, and this missile will also overshoot. (Evade at 1-3 miles).

For maneuvers, watch the IAS (indicated air speed), which, in normal maneuvers, should vary between 200 IAS (for going down) and 330 IAS (for going up). Make a split S maneuver (going under) to invert your course, but first make your plane go slower.

In air superiority missions surround all the groups of bandits, including the farter bandits that are in attack direction. Surround and stay far enough of enemy radar detection cones. Send your wingmen instead of firing, but, when attacked from the 12 o'clock position respond with fire (activating your Active Radar) and evade missiles effectively.

Scissors: Be patient: That's OK if you enter in many loops. Keep your AoA (angle of attack) at about 30� most of the times. Reduce speed (brake, go up) (Immelman maneuver helps to reduce speed) (the bandits, with higher speeds, will pass you by, and you will be able to shoot at them). Keep your six clear. If you see in your radar wingmen comming to you then they are free. Send them orders.

When landing normally, it helps to activate the air brakes and then use engine power (throttle) to control the speed. But during emergency landings you should not use your airbrakes nor your landing gear, but only lower your landing gear in the last moment as this produces drag and slows the plane dramatically.

Try to concentrate on what you are doing during combat flight. Forget about the nice graphics (at least during intense moments) and look at your instruments allways thinking that you have to be calm in order to evade missiles and do the right thing.

In close in dogfights as well as in BVR (beyond visual range) engagements you should try to surprise the bandits. Activate your radar when you are ready to fire. Don't activate and de-activate your radar carelessly.

To initiate an Immelman maneuver with AoA limiter ON, lower your Gs and your AoA (unload the plane).

Aqcuire performance when you can.


Rafael Ben�tez. 2001.

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