Jets Vs Vtol

In a message dated 9/29/99 2:00:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time, - - Ryan 
Montieth Gill  writes:

<< This begs a question. Can a VTOL do an opfire vs an aerospace,
assuming 
 its in arc of its weapons? The military guys always note the difficulty

 of fighters attacking helo's in RL. They move around on you but still
get 
 to hide down in the brush. (one pass he's here, the next pass he's over

 there and shooting at you as you come in...)
  >>

This is endlessly debated in my working circles.  The advantage is
totally to 
the jet if he gets spotting.  This can come from visual or from AWACs. 
The 
footage of the HH-60 shootdowns in Iraq (blue on blue by F-15s) shows it
all. 
 The helos do not even see the attack coming (Not that they were worried

about being attacked by their own planes but they were still in a
dangerous 
area).	

If the Fast Movers cannot get spotting then the advantage lays with the
Helo. 
 Stay low, use terrain to mask and take your shot.  You have a plane
against 
a nice cool sky, they have to shoot against the cluttered ground.  Also
if 
you can get the Jets to increase dive angle (move towards them at best
speed) 
you can get them to break off the attack.  No one likes diving at the
ground 
and pushing into a steeper dive.

So far the jury is still out but it looks like the Jets usually win.

Bob Makowsky