"Say what you want about opportunity there is plenty of research that supports some gender differences that are poo-pooed by the PC brigade. Aggresion is less common in the female demographic, IMHO and I suspect it is a generally percieved wisdom."

.... putting us back into air superiority

But there are some situations where pure aggression leads to risk-taking behaviours too, 'red mist syndrome', etc. I am not saying that women cannot be aggressive, or get the 'red mist', but sometimes being less prone to adrenaline rushes and aggression can lead to much clearer and simple solutions, that appear aggressive. Aggression alone seldom solves anything and a great deal of training to men in aerial combat is about tempering their aggression and seeking 'calmer' solutions clearly and more quickly. I am not suggesting you are saying that aggression is a male only trait, but I would consider that lack of aggression can be very positive even on a battlefield if clearer thinking leads to quicker wins. An apparent aggressive result/outcome could come from a clear thinking mind not clouded by aggressive impulse.

Some Chess moves can be very aggressive but they are often more the result of clear, thinking ahead, strategies than knee jerk aggression. When a combat pilot can be ahead of the game and react in an almost intuitive/second nature/instinctive way, is when they are at their deadliest but maybe not their most aggressive.

Red Arrow pilots do all that and more, with no display ever the same, having honed their skills as front line fast jet pilots mostly. An aggressive, too competative, pilot would not get there.

Not sure if I have said that clear enough but I know what I mean ;-)

mp