WWI Aerial Dog Fighting and a Look Back of the Application of Boyd's Energy Attrition Theories

WWI Aerial Dog Fighting and a Look Back of the Application of Boyd's Energy Attrition Theories

Colonel Boyd was a famous Air Force fighter pilot flying an F-86 and is well known for his work he coined as the OODA Loop Theory. OODA Loop stands for; Observe, Orient, Decide, Access. This is where a pilot must "observe" the enemy, then "orient" their aircraft, next "decide" to engage and then "access" your next move, and do it over and over again during the dog fight until the other pilot is defeated in shot down.

Now then, it seems that in World War I, before Colonel Boyd developed his theories of energy attrition in dog fighting that these truths were much more apropos. Since WWI aircraft were slow and often under powered by today's standards of thrust/weight ratios, those aces which succeeded in their aerial encounters were probably using more of Colonel Boyd's theories than anyone may have ever known.

For instance, if we study the Red Baron's tactics, Baron von Richtoften, we note he had his group engage the enemy and he would swoop in and pick off the aircraft at their most vulnerable points. Our Think Tank was discussing this the other night when considering the future of aerial combat.

Indeed, as I study nature and how various species are able to evade predators or how the aggressors position themselves for their prey. It appears that many of these techniques are completely adaptable to the future of combat with robotic UAVs, MAVs and AI control systems.

The concept of swarming, energy attrition and the study of the very first aerial dogfights to modern day, show how the evolution of aerial combat will thrust us into the future. We can learn a lot by studying the past and applying it to the future.