One very powerful feature in XWA which is often ignored is the rudder. If you don't have the rudder built into your stick, use the rudder via keypad 1 (left rudder) and keypad 3 (right rudder. Or, you can program the rudder controls into two buttons on your stick if you can.
While turning to the right and putting the rudder left, you will definitely notice an increase in turning speed. While turning left, put the rudder right, which provides the same effect in the opposite direction.. This may seem a bit unnatural at first, but once you have practiced a bit with the rudder, it will become an invaluable and almost second nature asset. THIS DOES NOT WORK FOR XVT .
Breaking is a defensive maneuver that when performed properly, causes a pursuer to overshoot the target. It is done by turning sharply into the pursuer's line of attack.
A defensive maneuver designed to defeat a gun kill from behind. It consists of slowing down, in a series of turn reversals, rolling 180 degrees, in hopes that a bandit overshoots.
By performing this fairly simple, yet effective maneuver, it is often possible to disengage, and charge lasers with a minimal risk of being shot. As the name suggests, the maneuver begins with a looping action. Place your throttle at full, and move the joystick to one of the 4 corners of its rotation while holding down the roll button. While this seems quite simple, in practice, most people have a great deal of difficulty hitting you while in this loop. Conversely for XWA, adding the appropriate rudder makes you just as difficult of a target. This is forming the knot. The tying-up part of the maneuver comes in when you switch to 1/3, divert power to engines, and quickly loop back towards your opponent. If timed correctly, you can usually get a good quick finishing shot off.
Depending on the circumstances and opponent, on occasions, random maneuvering and reversals prove to be either very effective, or very suicidal in a knife fight. Use directional reverses, sudden stops, whatever feels appropriate at the moment… in certain cases they may just work. One part of flying consists of trained reflexes, but another is largely instinct. This last category falls into the instructional. As you become more experienced, you will develop tricks and maneuvers that you may not even realize you are doing, or that you are unable to characterize. The trick is to practice and practice often.