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The Ace Factor: Air Combat and the Role of Situational Awareness
Book by Spick, Mike
208 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 13, 2022
The author tries to explain why just a low percentage of fighter pilots are responsible for the majority of 'kills' made in the air. He does so by describing the progress of the fighter aircraft from WWI till modern times and the developments of tactics used. Using examples like von Richthofen, Galland, Bader, Malan, Marseille and more he shows why it was that they were better than the majority of other pilots. Does he describe the 'ace factor'...? Hmm...
In a way he does, because the examples used show why they had better instincts etc., but there is more to it than meets the eye. A better title, in my opinion, would have been 'The SA Factor'. SA standing for Situational Awareness. Some pilots just had a better grip on what was going on all around them than others. Some of them had an unexplained 'sixth sense' that seemed to warn them for danger, others had better eyesight than most. Some had a combination of all those things to make them stand out.
Development of electronics made assessing a situation easier, despite an increase of workload for the pilot. Becoming an ace was often, especially in the war over Vietnam, depending on teamwork between the pilot and GIB (guy-in-back). The latter adding a set of eyes to watch for enemy aircraft, aiding the pilot to focus on what was happening in front of him.
The book does a good job in describing how the air war developed over the years, but if it really pinpoints the 'ace factor'... Despite the fact that some of the graphics used were hard to read in my paperback copy of the book, the book still makes for an interesting read.
In a way he does, because the examples used show why they had better instincts etc., but there is more to it than meets the eye. A better title, in my opinion, would have been 'The SA Factor'. SA standing for Situational Awareness. Some pilots just had a better grip on what was going on all around them than others. Some of them had an unexplained 'sixth sense' that seemed to warn them for danger, others had better eyesight than most. Some had a combination of all those things to make them stand out.
Development of electronics made assessing a situation easier, despite an increase of workload for the pilot. Becoming an ace was often, especially in the war over Vietnam, depending on teamwork between the pilot and GIB (guy-in-back). The latter adding a set of eyes to watch for enemy aircraft, aiding the pilot to focus on what was happening in front of him.
The book does a good job in describing how the air war developed over the years, but if it really pinpoints the 'ace factor'... Despite the fact that some of the graphics used were hard to read in my paperback copy of the book, the book still makes for an interesting read.
October 22, 2018
Could have been more researched on the aspect of how to progressively build better SA rather than arguing just that somehow its to do something with the innate ability...
Furthermore, it appears that the authors lost track of the actual subject in the middle of the book and went on to narrate the stories... Nevertheless, good attempt.
Furthermore, it appears that the authors lost track of the actual subject in the middle of the book and went on to narrate the stories... Nevertheless, good attempt.
March 16, 2012
On nearly every side in nearly every conflict involving airpower since its introduction in WWI, roughly 40% of the kills have been achieved by roughly 5% of the pilots. This book attempts to identify what sets those 5% apart from the rest.
The bulk of the book consists of examples from different aces throughout history describing how they achieved their success. In following this format, the author also provides a general history of the fighter in combat from WWI to the late 80s (the book being published in 1988).
One interesting thing to note is that while peacetime airforces have attempted to maximize the chance of recruiting aces through the use of rigorous screening processes, those same processes would have screened out many earlier aces, including some of the most influential aces of WWI and WWII.
The bulk of the book consists of examples from different aces throughout history describing how they achieved their success. In following this format, the author also provides a general history of the fighter in combat from WWI to the late 80s (the book being published in 1988).
One interesting thing to note is that while peacetime airforces have attempted to maximize the chance of recruiting aces through the use of rigorous screening processes, those same processes would have screened out many earlier aces, including some of the most influential aces of WWI and WWII.
January 29, 2011
Outstanding as a review of the development of air-to-air combat since World War I and a primer on basic fighter tactics, along with the analysis implied by the title of the qualities in both pilot and aircraft that enable combat pilots to win consistently. A relatively short book and a quick, clear read. As a plus, an appendix includes most of the text of the classic No Guts No Glory by Korean War US Air Force ace "Boots" Blesse.
February 5, 2012
Spick does a terrific job of supporting his thesis that there is, indeed, an Ace Factor by using hard data and anecdotal evidence from WWI to Vietnam and beyond. Few of us will ever be in the positions of the many pilots cited in this work, but the book serves as a terrific primer for those interested in aviation history and in playing computer simulations of air combat. It is a treasure trove of air combat stats and collected wisdom from real aces.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews