 the dicta boelcke is a list of fundamental aerial maneuvers of aerial combat formulated by the first great german flying ace of the first world war, oswald boelcke. ==boelcke's list of tactics== the dicta boelcke consists of the following 8 rules: ===1. try to secure the upper hand before attacking. if possible, keep the sun behind you=== advantages for world war i aircraft included speed, altitude, surprise, performance and numerical superiority. *speed: the pilot with the faster of two machines has control over the combat. he has the choice to break off combat and retire. the slower machine can not catch him. the pilot of a slower machine must stay on the defense. he can not run to safety. a fast moving aircraft can perform elaborate maneuvers, giving its pilot many options. a machine flying close to its stall speed can do little beyond wallowing in a more or less straight line. aircraft engines available in 1914 and 1915 provided just enough thrust to keep machines airborne at 150&nbsp;km/h (93&nbsp;mph), and not much more. level flight was fine, but climbing to a higher altitude took several minutes and cut air speed nearly in half. diving, on the other hand, could add half again to a plane's top speed. by 1916, engine power and speed increased. by the end of the war, aircraft were operating regularly at speeds over 200&nbsp;km/h (124&nbsp;mph). speed was critical. *altitude: from the advantage of flying above his opponent, a pilot had more control over how and where the fight takes place. he could dive upon his opponent, gaining a sizable speed advantage for a hit and run attack. or, if the enemy had too many advantages- numbers for instance- a pilot could fly away with a good head start. at best, world war i aircraft climbed very slowly compared with later types. altitude was a hard earned 'potential energy' store not to be given away capriciously. *surprise: getting the first shot before one's opponent is prepared to return fire was the 'safest' and preferred method for attack. most air victories were achieved in the first pass. without all-seeing devices like radar, a pilot could approach his foe stealthily, using clouds, haze or even using the enemy aircraft's own wings or tail to conceal his approach. the glare of the sun, especially, provided an effective hiding spot. *performance: knowing the strengths, weakness and capabilities of your own aircraft, and that of your foe, was also critical. who was faster, who could turn tighter, how many were there, etc. he argued against foolish acts of 'heroism.' if he could not 'secure advantages,' he would not attack. one of boelcke's pupils, manfred von richthofen (better known as the red baron), learned this rule very well and later be
Aerial_maneuvers Aerial_warfare_tactics Aviation_in_World_War_I Imperial_German_Army_Air_Service