aerial combat

[Spectrum Rider]

I'm a little confused about aerial combat (which may come up in a big way in a game I'm DM'ing soon). Is there a place with detailed examples and explanations I can look at?

In particular, I've been looking at the dire hawk in MM II. It has a great full-attack sequence - but when does it get to use it? If it flies at somebody, that's a mov action, so it doesn't get the full sequence. I suppose it could end a round of flying 10' or 5' from somebody, and in the next round fly 5' (or none) and make the full-round attack. But what happens then? It only has an average maneuverabilty, so it has to maintain a forward fly speed or land. When it attacks, after the 5' "step" (or no movement at all), is it still flying? Or has the attack stopped its forward motion, so it has to land?

Also, if a creature makes a fly-by attack (assuming it has the feet), does that provoke an AoO from the victim? The creature is moving, it's attacking, it's passing through a square threatened by the victim - sounds like an AoO to me. But there's no mention of this in the feat, so I'm not sure.

Thanks in advance for your points.

The Spectrum Rider

 

[Spectrum Rider]

bump <eom>

 

[hong]

As I understand it, any flying creature with a maneuverability rating of Average or worse can't do a full attack in midair without falling. It might still do it anyway, if it's high enough that it won't risk hitting the ground straight away.