The Official F-19 Stealth Fighter Handbook

by Richard Sheffield

Strafing Attacks

One great way to increase your scores is to master the art of strafing targets. You carry all that cannon ammunition, so you might as well learn to use it. You must be below 500 feet for a successful attack, and your range is only 2.5 miles. Flying very slowly is the key. The manual recommends using the speed brake, but it's easier to use your flaps to increase lift and decrease stall speed. Line the target up and dip the nose slightly as you fire. Keep an eye on your altitude; making smoking holes in the ground won't win any medals.

Most targets will take several strafing hits to destroy. Some (runways, for instance) are almost impossible to destroy with your gun. On the other hand, oil tanks go up nicely under gunfire.

Organize Your Weapons Bay

If you take the time to organize your weapons before you take off, you can save precious seconds in the heat of battle. Some people like to put all air-to-air missiles in the top two bays and air-to-ground weapons in the bottom bays. I generally put the weapon I'm going to use on the Primary Target in Bay 1, and if I'm carrying extra fuel I'll put it in Bay 4. Organize them any way you like, but keep things the same so you'll know where they are at all times. You don't have time to pull up the weapons inventory in the middle of a dogfight.

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