Immelmann (aerobatics)

Schematic representation of an Immelmann:
1. horizontal approach
2. half loop
3. half roll

The Immelmann is also (and actually more correctly, see below) called an upswing (English Immelmann Turn or Roll off the Top ). This aerobatic maneuver consists of a half -over and an immediately subsequent half role . Half the rollover is flown from the horizontal rising up to the supine position. Half a roll is then rolled back into normal flight position. With the Immelmann , the flight direction can be reversed quickly and in a tight space and thereby gain altitude. This maneuver is no stall flown.

This aerobatic figure is named after Max Immelmann , a German fighter pilot of the First World War .

Even if the figure bears his name today, it is difficult to imagine that Max Immelmann actually flown it in this form (half flip followed by half roll), because his Fokker E III did not yet have ailerons . With its wing twist mechanism, it would hardly have been able to turn half the pulley at the apex of the rollover. It is therefore more likely that his inferior air combat opponents have exaggerated the capabilities of his machine in their descriptions. The maneuver that Immelmann flew could be a figure that is now commonly referred to as Chandelle , namely a steep climb curve from which the aircraft comes out higher than it flew in in normal flight attitude. According to other opinions, it was a maneuver that was similar to the aerobatic figure known today as the turn .

However, this discussion does not change anything at the core of Immelmann's invention: With his character, he was the first pilot who specifically exploited the third dimension for the exchange of potential and kinetic energy , which enormously expanded the tactical possibilities given the weak aircraft engine at the time.

In contrast to the aerobatic maneuver (180 ° change of direction), the aerial combat maneuver allows Immelmann to change course in any direction by rolling the aircraft in the desired direction in the 90 ° climb phase.

See also

• Downswing (aerobatics)
• Turn (aerobatics)
• Aerial combat maneuvers

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1. ↑ Immelmann Turn (animation) ( Memento of the original from April 10, 2006 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
2. ↑ Immelmann from the pilot's point of view