1. 180° roll.
2. Half loop.
3. Exit level
The Split S is an air combat maneuver mostly used to disengage from combat. To execute a Split S, the pilot half-rolls his aircraft inverted and executes a descending half-loop, resulting in level flight in the exact opposite direction at a lower altitude.
The Split S is taught to be used in dogfighting when the pilot has the opportunity to withdraw from battle. Contrary to popular belief, this maneuver is almost never used to evade target-locked air-to-air missiles. However, it can be an effective tactic to prevent an enemy behind (between eight o'clock and four o'clock positions) from gaining a missile lock-on while one is disengaging from a fight.
The Split S maneuver is contrasted with the Immelmann turn, which is an ascending half-loop that finishes with a half-roll out, resulting in level flight in the exact opposite direction at a higher altitude. The Split S is also called a reversed Immelmann turn, or can be listed with a hyphen as Split-S.
The Split S, being a descending maneuver, means that the pilot must always ensure that he/she is starting high enough to complete the half-loop; the exact altitude needed depends on factors such as the aircraft's speed, weight and manoeuvrability. Misjudgments can arise from a lack of situational awareness[1] or from an error in reading instruments, as happened to a USAF Thunderbirds pilot.
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See also
Pop culture
- In Top Gun, Charlie makes reference to footage of an aircraft performing a Split S.
- Numerous video games involving air combat typically provide tutorials on ACMs, including the Split S.
References
External links
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