Editor's Note: Now that the 2d edition rules for Air Superiority are published with the release of "The Speed Of Heat " a problem arises as to which set of rules are involved with the questions submitted to this column. Rules questions for Air Superiority, Air Strike, and Desert Falcons will be answered under the heading "Air Superiority Rules -- GDW" and are considered first edition rules questions. Second edition rules questions will be answered under the heading "Air Power Rules -- COA". Beginning with Air Power issue #25 (Volume 5, No.1), GDW's Air Superiority will be considered out of date and rules questions will no longer be taken for the first edition rules. AIR POWER RULES - COA Questions Submitted by Mark Dezendorf, Cocoa, FL. 1. Section 3.3 - Aircraft Collisions and Section 8.6­-Formation Restrictions: Section 3.3 says a collision is pos­sible if two or more friendly aircraft are stacked at the same altitude and not in close formation, while section 8.6 says that if a close formation breaks up, a collision is possible if more than two frieldly aircraft end the turn in the same position. Which is correct? Section 3.3 actually says: "a collision is possible if an aircraft is stacked with two or more friendly aircraft and not in close formation. - Both sections are correct as printed. Two friendly aircraft in the same position are never a problem with or without formations. It's when the third arrives that things get crowded and formations are needed to keep safe. Remember, "two's company, three's a crowd". 2. Section 7.3-Snap Turning: Under Snap Turn FP costs, it states that if the Turn Chart allows 60 or 90 degree turns, then a 60 degree snap turn is allowed. Does this refer to the BT turn rate column of the Turn Charts atthe aircraft's current speed and altitude? Since an aircraft must be capable of pulling a BT to snap turn normally, or an HT to perform a "risky" snap turn, the appropriate column (HT or BT) is referenced for this rule depending on which snap turn the aircraft is attempting. 3. Section 7.6 G-Induced Loss Of Consciousness: The rules say that one early recovery from GLOC may be attempted in the game turn following the one in which the GLOC occurred, but the Expanded Sequence of Play (in the Recovery From GLOC Section) says that two attempts may be made, one in the same game turn the GLOC occurred and again the turn after. Which is correct? Both are in error. The rule should state that all GLOC'd crew members are eligible for early recovery on the turn following the one in which GLOC occurred, and additionally, that if the GLOC'd crew member has excellent fitness or is in a multi-crew aircraft in which another crew member is not GLOC'd then they are eligible for early recovery in the turn in which GLOC occurred as well. 4. Section 8 - Changing Aircraft Altitude: the last sen­tence in this section prior to section 8.1 says "A single VFP will never gain or lose more than two altitude levels", but under section 8.2.3 (Vertical Dives) the second bullet says that "2 or 3 altitude levels must be lost for each VFP expended." Which is correct? Section 8.2.3 is correct. Vertical Dives are the one exception to the two-levels-per-VFP limit. 5. Section 8.1.1 - Zoom Climbs and Section 8.2.1 ­Steep Dives: The rules say that at least 1/3 of FPs must be HFPs, but the Flight Rules Summary card says that at least one, but up to 2/3 the FPs must be VFPs. Is there a requirement to expend at least a minimum of one VFP when choosing these flight types? That is correct. At least one VFP must be expended when a steep dive or zoom climb is used and no more than 2/3 of the aircraft's speed may be VFPs. 6. Section 8.1.2-Sustained Climbs: The rules say, in the fourth paragraph, "2) If the CCC value is 1.0 to 1.5, then up to 2/3...", but the Flight Rules Summary card says "If CCC value >=1.0 but less than or = 2.0..." Which is correct? The Rules are in error. The Flight Rules Summary card is correct. 7. Section 8.2 - Diving Right: The rules only give a re­quirement to dive two or more levels in order to maintain dive speed. Is there a minimum number of levels an aircraft has to dive to qualify for diving flight? Yes, one level via one VFP while in a Steep or Unloaded dive would be the minimum requirement. 8. Section 8.2.3 - Vertical Dives: There is no specific statement in the rules (there is on the Flight Rules Summary card) that requires an aircraft to be in diving flight prior to selecting a vertical dive. Excepting the use of the Half-Roll and Dive special maneuver, is there a requirement to do a Steep or Unloaded Dive the turn prior to a vertical dive? Yes. Diving Flight is required the turn prior to electing a vertical dive. The HRD maneuver gets you around that. The Flight Rules Summary card is correct. 9. Section 9.1 - Air-To-Air Gunnery: Under Recovery Period Exceptions, does the phrase"... and/or while wings level and not turning..." include the first FP expended after the completion of a turn? If so, would a Low Roll Rate aircraft first have to expend one FP to roll its wings level, prior to starting counting FPs for the recovery period? The recovery period does include the first FP expended after the completion of a turn. Low Roll Rate aircraft first have to expend one FP to roll wings level prior to beginning a recovery period. 10. Section 11.2 - Sighting Ground and Naval Units: Does the green splotchy stuff (swamps?) next to rivers on the maps constitute a terrain feature blocking lines of sight? No, they are rice paddies, i.e. Clear Terrain. Back to Table of Contents -- Air Power # 21 Back to Air Power List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 1992 by J.D. Webster This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com