The rationale is that there are two types of climb: first, the tactical climb or "vertical break", which isn't affected by the climb rate of the aircraft - all aircraft are equal. Then there's the smooth, steady sustained climb, the one where aircraft really differ from each other.
Aircraft doing "vertical breaks" - tactical climbs - have an effective climb rate of 6. Those with climb rates of over 6 can only do sustained climbs.
Aircraft doing "tactical dives" (but not reversals) can lose up to 2 pegs per dive. To lose only one, place a climb counter on the dive card.
Procedure for sustained climb:
Alternate slow straights with climbs, placing a climb counter on each. As you play the card, collect the climb counters. For each X climb counters, where X is the climb rating of the aircraft, go up 3 pegs. Round fractions down.
As soon as you cease a sustained climb, trade in all climb counters - an aircraft with 3 climb counters and climb of 4 gets 3/4 * 3 or 2 pegs.
Procedure for tactical climb (climb or reversal) - gain a peg.
If using the optional "Energy" rules,you may trade in all your energy for an additional peg. One only, no matter how many energy markers you have, as long as it's at least one..
Firing:
A difference of 1 peg does not affect range, but fixed rear-firing guns cannot fire if there's any altitude difference.
A difference of 2 pegs halves range except for dorsal and ventral guns and schraege musik.
A difference of 3 pegs prevents firing except for dorsal, ventral and schraege musik, which halves range.
A difference of 4 pegs prevents firing.
An aircraft fired at while doing a sustained climb takes an addition A damage chit.
Basically... in dogfights, you don't do sustained climbs. You disengage from the furball, then grab altitude in a smooth, steady, maximum climb attitude and engine setting. In practice,these rules simplify altitude. Nearly all climbs will be tactical, and it's simple. Climb - go up one. Dive - go down 2. Reversal - go up or down one, depending on whether Immelman or Split-S.
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