Birds of Prey: Air Combat in the Jet Age

About this board game

Birds of Prey: Air Combat in the Jet Age is a jet dogfighting game for 2-8 players, with a listed play time of 480 minutes. It simulates air combat in three dimensions, combining detailed flight mechanics with tools designed to keep play flowing.

The game’s flight system allows freedom of movement without requiring special maneuver rules. Physics-based systems model differences in aircraft performance through two graphical play aids called nomograms. These tools provide a streamlined way to represent the underlying flight calculations.

At the core of Birds of Prey is the PHAD, or Pitch, Heading, and Attitude Display. This simple tool helps players track an aircraft’s orientation in three dimensions, determine relative bearings and motion, and identify blind spots—even when an aircraft is flying straight and level, pointing its nose upward, or performing a wingover.

• Three-dimensional flight with pitch, heading, roll, and altitude represented during play
• Physics-based aircraft performance modeled through graphical nomograms
• Missiles that follow proper kinematics from launch and fly toward their targets without player intervention
• Full-color box miniatures placed on tilt-blocks and stacking tiles

The lavishly illustrated tutorial guides players through learning the game solo, while the rulebook serves primarily as a reference for rules questions. Laminated play aids include hints that lead players through flight and help make returning to play easier.

With its PHAD system, aircraft miniatures, and altitude and attitude displays, Birds of Prey brings the complexity of jet combat into a structured tabletop experience while keeping essential information visible during the fight.