Here are some tips for the Fight of the Old Dog mission:

 At the mission start get into the air as fast as you can. Put
 your wheel brakes on while throttling up to 100% or get caught
 in the hangar doors. When the doors are open release the brakes
 and take off quickly following normal procedure. Mountains
 surround the base so head north once off the ground keeping a
 steady climb rate. Go to offensive weapons station and switch
 in attack radar. Decrease range to 5-10 km. Select the red
 batwing-shaped enemy fighter and while lock is established set
 the bomb control panel to 'unlatch' and 'auto'. Select an
 AIM-120 and launch. If this doesn't remove the enemy repeat
 the process until he's shot down. Shut off attack radar and
 switch to camera. General Elliot commands you to head west
 so maintain a steady climb rate over the mountains. Select
 time compression (warp 5) to reach the next screen. Evade
 friendly radar contact and simulate a crash in the ocean.
 Set time compression to normal (warp 1) and turn attack
 radar off.
 At the pilot station set your TAC to less than 380 feet but
 don't turn it on. Set throttle to 70% and go through the
 normal identification process when contacted by Seattle. When
 Elliot tells you to put on the show go into a steep dive until
 the analog altimeter or flight level shows -59. Air control
 asks if you're losing control and when you altimeter reads
 between 10500 and11500 switch on the TAC. Level off at around
 500 feet to evade the radar. Change heading until you receive a
 confirmation that you've evaded radar contact. Elliot orders
 you to head west. Leave the TAC on but stay in camera mode on
 the EVS and do not switch the radar on.
 If you get this right you go to the next screen where you
 refuel. Switch the TAC off and gain altitude. Go to the
 offensive weapons station and use the camera mode to lock on to
 the KC 130 refuelling tanker. Go to the pilot station and click
 on 'C' in the air refuel panel. The tanker refuses so switch on
 attack radar and try again. You can now refuel. Switch to
 autopilot set throttle to 100% and go through the in-flight
 refuelling procedure. Set the EVS back to camera mode. You now
 have a full load of fuel and can go on to Kamchatka to blow up
 the Kavaznya radar. Remember not to use the default weapon
 load - remove all weapons and use a mix of AGM-136 AGM-88A
 AGM-84E and AGM-130s. Don't go straight for the laser but for
 laser radar and save some long-range missiles for it.