The Dog FIght - 1992

Ten minutes after launching the F-18 Hornet spotted the Mig in front of him and just to the left.

The Hornet pulled along side the other plane. Both pilots meeting each other's gaze. A slight nod from the MIg pilot and the Hornet fell back to a tailchase position slightly to the side and above the lead plane.

Once the MIg had spotted the Hornet, it dropped to 500 feet. Then it dropped lower and lower. They were at 200 feet now, the Hornet keeping pace with the almost identical Mig.

50 feet.

The Mig shot upward into a steep climb at speeds exceeding 300 knots, spinning as it did so still unable to shake the other warplane.

Without warning he angled up and let loose with the power. He started clinmbing again, racing through the clouds, slicing them effortlessly til he was 500 feet above the barren ground.

Leveling off the Mig pilot waved mockingly back at the other pilot turned sharply to the left. The Hornet veered to the right in hopes of cutting off the receding planes path.

The jets roared towards each other head on, both wide open. They came at each other at great speed both passing each other in a head-on pass merely 50 feet from each other's wingtips.

The Hornet's pilot craned his head trying to see where the other jet went but he was lost in the glare from sun. He rolled into a step bank and pulled back harder on the stick.

There he was.

He brought the nose of the Hornet up, bleeding off air speed and shortening his turning radius turning hard again he came in on his opponent's rear quarter but the Mig moved away and dove towards the ground.

The Hornet made a slow roll and followed in pursuit, both planes accelerating downward faster and faster. The mig pulled up in a sweet hammerhead move and they flashed by each other head on again.

The Hornet's nose cme up sharply and the chase was on again. The jet raced upwards, the airspeed bleeding of severly. The jet seemed to ahng motionless in the sky til it started a tail slide back to earth, then it flopped over on it's back. The pilot rolled the huge beast and once again it was in a nose dive for the ground.

The pilot's eyes searching the vast space below him. There he was. Straight ahead and level another head on. With lightning reflexes he rolled the jet, applied the air brakes, then more power, hoping to cause the other to overshoot him.

The earth and sky tumbled sickingly as the planes responded to each of the pilot's slight commands. Each was focused on the other, trying to get to him before he himself was gotten.

The Mig now chasing the Hornet.

The Hornet slowed along the MIg to reach him. Both planes no longer maneuvering, both level, both flashing by.

With out warning the Hornet applied the air brakes sending the plane's nose upward as the surprised Mig flew by underneath helplessly. The Hornet's pilot shoved the throttle forward once more and came in behind him.

It was over.

Once on the ground the jets taxied toward the tarmac, parking the huge beasts. Both canopies slid open to the roar of the large airshow crowd.

Once again the once warplanes had put on a memorial performance.