A method based on optimal control techniques, closed-loop task-oriented design objectives, and an optimal control model of the human pilot was applied to augment the system dynamics in a longitudinal air-to-air tracking task. The plant dynamics included not only the vehicle short-period mode but the dynamics of two different lead-computing sight displays at different racking ranges and levels of target acceleration. Previously obtained experimental results were duplicated, a family of full-state feedback linear control laws developed, tracking improvements predicted, and augmented system dynamics (eigenvalues) investigated. The results demonstrate the dependence of the desirable vehicle (short-period) dynamics on the dynamics of the other system modes (e.g., the display), thus emphasizing the importance of considering all of the system dynamics in handling qualities investigation and stability augmentation synthesis.