The most important thing in fighting was shooting, next the various tactics in coming into a fight and last of all flying ability itself.
I did the 23 hour nose-route to the top of El Capitan in 6 hours and 18 minutes! I can make this work.
In nearly all cases where machines have been downed, it was during a fight which had been very short, and the successful burst of fire had occurred within the space of a minute after the beginning of actual hostilities.