Col. John Boyd, “one of the most important unknown men of his time,” was a Korean War Era Air Force fighter pilot who later transformed how air combat was fought with his revolutionary energy-maneuverability(EM) theories. He also changed the whole way the US fought battles on the ground and became the most respected “USAF Marine.”
After Korea, he attended the USAF Weapons School (Top Gun) and graduated at the top of his class, becoming the head of the Academic Section and writing the tactics manual for the school. His “Air Attack Study” became official USAF doctrine, and the Bible for all air combat around the world. His flying skills were legendary being called “40-second Boyd” for defeating all adversaries. Starting with a fighter on his tail, he overcame all challengers for years in less than 40 seconds.
Working with mathematician Thomas Christie Boyd codified his E-M theories into his famous all-day briefings when he was moved to the Pentagon. A legendary “creative thinker” Boyd worked with Pierre Sprey and a group called the “fighter mafia” in the Pentagon to develop both the F-16 and the A-10, arguably two of the most revolutionary and successful mission-appropriate Air Force projects. Boyd’s tactical theories like his O-O-D-A loop have become legendary tools taught in every business school in the world and his military tactics were hailed by Marine General Charles Krulak as the reason for the swift US victory in Gulf War of 1991. Largely ignored by the USAF in death, he was highly honored by the Marines and buried with full military honors in Section 60 at Arlington.
Mr. Sprey, Christie and a few others became part of a small group of analysts under the leadership of Boyd, a former fighter pilot who wanted to bring improved planning and efficiency to the Air Force. They adopted an almost furtive, underground approach, often working late at night, and came to be known as the “fighter mafia.”….In general, the group believed that simpler, cheaper weapons and aircraft worked better than complex, more expensive designs. Airplanes loaded down with electronics and other features, Mr. Sprey argued, were less maneuverable and harder to repair. [MORE]
The energy management theories Boyd developed have only recently been adopted into GA flying with the new “energy mapping diagrams” in the recent Airplane Flying Handbook. Considered “too complex” by some, these graphic depictions create an integrated view of flight based entirely on energy management. I have been very impressed with Dr. Juan Merkt’s development and presentation of these theories. He will be our presenter tonight at our SAFE Webinar. I agree some of these concepts can be initially confusing, but working with Juan on the presentation, I have been impressed with the practical value and usability of integrated energy management for all pilots. CFIs will benefit from the way Juan reveals their value. Join us tonight for this SAFE Webinar and strap in for an hour of valuable learning. The new CFI MCA maneuver will be the central focus; something every initial CFI must now master. Fly safely out there (and often)!
Join us tonight for a free webinar on flight control usage, “energy errors, and the new CFI ACS MCA maneuver in our January Webinar with (CFI/PhD) Juan Merkt. 90% of pattern stalls occur on take-off and turn-out (high power and high AOA/pitch attitude). Training at MCA creates an intuitive correct use of the rudder (and an awareness of “the feathered edge”). LOC-I is the #1 causal factor of fatal aviation accidents. MCA is precisely what pilots need to practice to fly safer (out of the “comfort zone!”)
