The Immelmann turn
The term Immelmann turn, named in honor of German World War I Eindecker fighter pilot Leutnant Max Immelmann, pertains to two distinct aircraft maneuvers, as noted by Wiki. During World War I aerial engagements, an Immelmann turn was employed post-attack on another aircraft to allow the attacking plane to reposition for a subsequent assault. In contemporary aerobatics, an Immelmann turn (also referred to as “roll-off-the-top” by the British, or simply an Immelmann) is an aerobatic maneuver that concludes with level flight in the opposite direction at a higher altitude.
According to iac.org, the Immelmann maneuver is defined as a vertical half-loop up followed by a half slow roll to upright, with no line between the half-loop up and the half-roll. It is not a hard maneuver to do, but it incorporates many aerobatic elements, throws the pilot around the cockpit, eats up a lot of energy, and is an easy one to fall out of; it is rewarding when done well. It is also a great maneuver to put right before a spin. The half-loop up makes up for some of the altitude you are about to lose in the spin, but mostly the Immelmann gets you slowed quickly to spin entry speed.
USAF F-102 intercepting a Drug Runner Beech 19
Pete Seitz, a former USAF F-102A Delta Dagger pilot, recalls on Quora:
‘When flying the F-102A out of Key West Naval Air Station (we were Air Force on the Navy), we intercepted many aircraft penetrating the ADIZ without proper credentials. One such mission took two of us (Tango Lima 21 and 21 Alpha—me) to intercept a bogie headed towards Punta Gorda, FL. It was coming from South America and was probably a drug runner. We closed on him at 500 KIAS. Lead was to ID the aircraft, and I was to lock on and get ready to arm and fire. Lead blew past him and said it looked like a Beech 19.
‘I was locked on but closing at a ridiculous rate. The only thing to do was an Immelmann. I pulled straight up and threw out the speed brakes and lowered the gear.
No markings or paint
‘This is not your standard Immelmann, but close. I had to slow down. I then had lots of altitude and potential energy that I used to descend and pull up next to him while slow flighting, to get pictures. It was a Beech 19 with no markings or paint.’
Seitz concludes,
‘The guy in the right seat had a huge mustache and was wearing a sleeveless undershirt and when he saw me, he probably s**t in his pants. The Immelmann worked.’
Photo by U.S. Air Force, E.L. Ford / Royal Naval Air Service and Immelmann_turn.png: Dammit derivative work: Malyszkz (talk)
