- Reaction score
- 35
- Points
- 560
Just working through "Boyd; the fighter pilot who changed the art of war"
For those of you who do not know, LCol John Boyd (USAF) was not only a hot fighter pilot, but also developed ideas like the "Aerial Attack Study", "Energetic Maneuverability theory", founded the 1970 era "military reform movement" and is the inventor of the "Boyd Cycle", more commonly known as the "OODA loop". His insights are sometimes credited as being the foundation of the idea of 4GW as well.
Considering the size and importance of these concepts (and the outcome as well; E-M theory informed the design of the F-16 and F-18, and use of the OODA loop concept in conjunction with Air-Land War doctrine has made the US army the most potent force in the field in conventional conflicts) you would think that Boyd would be the best known military figure of the late 20th century. Unfortunately, Col Boyd was also the sort of person who lacked finesse and social/bureaucratic skills (most of us would probably not have enjoyed being in the same room as him), which doomed his chances at promotion and recognition.
Interesting read, and provides a good insight into where these ideas came from.
For those of you who do not know, LCol John Boyd (USAF) was not only a hot fighter pilot, but also developed ideas like the "Aerial Attack Study", "Energetic Maneuverability theory", founded the 1970 era "military reform movement" and is the inventor of the "Boyd Cycle", more commonly known as the "OODA loop". His insights are sometimes credited as being the foundation of the idea of 4GW as well.
Considering the size and importance of these concepts (and the outcome as well; E-M theory informed the design of the F-16 and F-18, and use of the OODA loop concept in conjunction with Air-Land War doctrine has made the US army the most potent force in the field in conventional conflicts) you would think that Boyd would be the best known military figure of the late 20th century. Unfortunately, Col Boyd was also the sort of person who lacked finesse and social/bureaucratic skills (most of us would probably not have enjoyed being in the same room as him), which doomed his chances at promotion and recognition.
Interesting read, and provides a good insight into where these ideas came from.