Flight Leader

I managed to get a very good unpunched copy of  Flight Leader by Avalon Hill. BGG link

The game dates from 1986 and covers jet fighter combat from 1950 to the then present day. It was initially designed by a jet fighter pilot as an aid to training would be jet fighter pilots.

I set up a small game today using the basic rules, there is an advanced rule section and an optional rule section which you can cherry pick a complexity to suit yourself.

For my first game I picked subsonic planes and didn't allow them to carry missiles. I chose a pair of MiG-17's and a pair of Fiat G-91 Gina's to have a fight over 1960's central Europe.

I always liked the G-91 since I built an Airfix model when I was a young'un. 

And their opponents...

To "fly" the wee cardboard jets you use a status card which looks a bit like a HUD. 

I had an entertaining first game despite losing both Gina's. I am looking forward to getting into the advanced game manouevres, it would have been useful to perform some split S's and barrel rolls. 

The mounted map board deserves a shout out, it is a beauty.

I am very pleased with this game, I'm going to give the same planes some heat seeker missiles tonight and have another go.