| Colonel Boyd was a famous Air Force fighter pilot | | | | For instance, if we study the Red Baron's tactics, |
| flying an F-86 and is well known for his work he | | | | Baron von Richtoften, we note he had his group |
| coined as the OODA Loop Theory. OODA Loop | | | | engage the enemy and he would swoop in and pick |
| stands for; Observe, Orient, Decide, Access. This is | | | | off the aircraft at their most vulnerable points. Our |
| where a pilot must "observe" the enemy, then | | | | Think Tank was discussing this the other night when |
| "orient" their aircraft, next "decide" to engage and | | | | considering the future of aerial combat. |
| then "access" your next move, and do it over and | | | | Indeed, as I study nature and how various species |
| over again during the dog fight until the other pilot is | | | | are able to evade predators or how the aggressors |
| defeated in shot down. | | | | position themselves for their prey. It appears that |
| Now then, it seems that in World War I, before | | | | many of these techniques are completely adaptable |
| Colonel Boyd developed his theories of energy | | | | to the future of combat with robotic UAVs, MAVs |
| attrition in dog fighting that these truths were much | | | | and AI control systems. |
| more apropos. Since WWI aircraft were slow and | | | | The concept of swarming, energy attrition and the |
| often under powered by today's standards of thrust | | | | study of the very first aerial dogfights to modern |
| weight ratios, those aces which succeeded in their | | | | day, show how the evolution of aerial combat will |
| aerial encounters were probably using more of | | | | thrust us into the future. We can learn a lot by |
| Colonel Boyd's theories than anyone may have ever | | | | studying the past and applying it to the future. |
| known. | | | | |