Newcomer / Intro Second Incursion Challenge Tutorial - death spiral Viper vs Viper

I am trying to pass the second Incursion tutorial under "challenge" section. I get a Viper, and the AI starts with a Cobra and then a Viper.
I managed to learn how to beat the Cobra.
But with the Viper, it's a stupid death spiral, followed by a quick head on charge, followed by another death spiral, followed by another quick head on charge, and so on ad nauseum. The AI wins due to his weapons loadout.

I've tried fighting in reverse speed. I've tried fighting in blue throttle. I've tried fighting with throttle at 0 and just using directional thrusters all the time.
But because the ships are same, I just can't get any advantageous position, unless we are both charging each other head on (in which case AI wins).

What's the trick?
 
Pip management. Full pips to Engines to out manuver him. Get into an advantageous firing position, then full pips to weapons. Repeat as position advantage degrades.
 
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