One of the things the students in the T-38 see is an "acceleration maneuver." They don't realize it, but it is a fundamental to gaining energy in air-to-air combat.

They'll try it at 1-g, 300 kts, and going to afterburner until, say, 500 kts. Not all that impressive. Takes about a minute.

Then we'll try it at a higher altitude, but unload to about 0.3 g. Only takes about 20 seconds.

Two reasons: the pull of gravity is one, but induced-drag (which is significant in low-aspect-ratio airplanes like fighters) is almost zero. More thrust and less drag? Accelerate faster!