Pylon turn: Difference between revisions

The first notable combat use of the pylon turn was in the [[Vietnam War]] in 1964,<ref name=Ballard>{{cite web|title=Development and Employment of Fixed-Wing Gunships, 1962-1972|url=http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/Publications/fulltext/gunships.pdf|publisher=Air Force Historical Studies Office|accessdate=7 February 2011|author=Jack S. Ballard|page=9|year=1982|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711121145/http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/Publications/fulltext/gunships.pdf|archivedate=11 July 2011}}</ref> with the development of the [[AC-47 Spooky]] gunship, which could fire [[minigun]]s mounted on the left side of the aircraft as the pilot circled the target. Later, the more advanced [[Lockheed AC-130]] was used in the same way. Using this maneuver allowed gunners to fire continuously and efficiently at a stationary target for an extended period of time, without needing to make several passes. Another huge advantage of pylon turns was that the gunfire was accurate enough to be used even in close proximity to friendly troops, which had never before been possible in air power. Also, a

A similar method is used by attack helicopters, on which the armament shoots forward. In this case the helicopter strafes sideways in a circle around a single target. This method improves shooting accuracy, increasing hit probability.