Boelcke.

This is coolbert:

Several Saturday mornings ago, early, I am driving through Naperville, Illinois. Can see, flying low and fast in a clockwise squared circle, a small private jet of some sort. Just a small silver dot against the background of the bright blue sky, but still visible.

Hard to see. I was never able to get close enough to make an identification of any sort. But IT WAS a jet, that was clear. Perhaps an aerobatic private jet such as the BD-5J "Acrostar" Microjet.




Again, hard to see, with one exception.

When the plane made a banking turn to the right [flying clockwise].

When banking and making a turn, the aircraft gave off a very visible trail of black smoke. ONLY when making a turn.

This trailing smoke phenomenon is NOT new to me.

Forty years ago, stationed at Clark Field, Luzon Island, The Philippines, I also observed this smoke phenomenon. In this case, observing the dog-fight war game play of American pilots manning F-4 Phantom aircraft, in preparation for deployment to Vietnam.

Above the skies of Luzon, American pilots were practicing for the real dog fight warfare encountered over North Vietnam. Dog fight air battles that did not always go well for American pilots.

For some reason, the F-4 Phantom was notorious for leaving a trail of black smoke. I can attest to this by my own observations.

In aerial dog fighting combat, trailing smoke of this sort is a disadvantage, especially if one considers the dicta of Boelcke [Bull-key]. Especially the # 1 dicta.



"1. Try to secure the upper hand before attacking. If possible, keep the sun behind you."

Place yourself in an advantageous position, preferably with the sun to your back. NOT ALWAYS an easy thing to do, I am sure.

This would seem to imply that YOU MUST SEE THE ENEMY BEFORE HE SEES YOU!!?? YES!! This would seem to be obvious!! You can gain the initiative and maintain it if you see the enemy first and take appropriate action. Having the initiative in warfare, whether ground or aerial combat, is usually decisive.

What is it about jet engines that they trail black smoke when in a turn, and ONLY then!!?? I do not know?? Fuels subjected to G-forces in a turn not being burned properly? Hard to say.

What held true for Boelcke in 1915 holds true in 2006 as well.

coolbert.