Overhead break?

[Banjo33]

I know I've been told before, but why do we peform the "overhead break"? Is there an actual purpose?

 

[ChunksJR]

I can tell you why the helos do it at the LHA...because it's fun.

But it also provides a change in energy state - maintaining altitude while the constant altitude AOB bleeds off speed efficiently and sets us up for landing.

I'd imagine that there's a good reason back in WWII to keep max forward airspeed until safely back at the carrier too...and there's this in the Canadian ATC manual:

overhead break-

A series of predetermined manoeuvres prescribed for the VFR arrival of military aircraft (often in formation) for their entry into the VFR aerodrome traffic circuit and for landing.

also called: 360 overhead, flat break and pitch

 

[Brett327]

Check this out.

Brett

 

[Banjo33]

Thanks brett. I was on my way to bed and too lazy to run a search. Looks like no one really knows for sure.

 

[skidkid]

It allows for a safe efficient way to split off your flight for landing at the same time bleeding off airspeed and not jamming up the routes into the airport/onto the ship.

 

[FLY_USMC]

Also for aircraft that aren't equipped with a zero/zero ejection seat system, it allows them to stay inside their aircrafts ejection minimums longer than would a straight-in.

 

[hornetframer]

The main reason for the break is to decrease your profile while landing so you would not get shot down. This was the reason at least in the early days of WWII. It has now become tradition and probably a good thing to do nowadays is you have to land in unfriendly territory.

 

[Brett327]

@ Fly and Framer: Ugh! Did you guys even read the thread. I don't want to rehash this issue again, but it has nothing to do with either of the two reasons you state. Think more like Skid.

Brett

 

[Catmando]

I know I've been told before, but why do we peform the "overhead break"? Is there an actual purpose?

At sea, the interval between landing aircraft is crucial. The quickest way to recover many aircraft in the shortest amount of time is if they all maintain a precise and proper interval – not too close, nor too far from the landing aircraft ahead.

Weather permitting, the best way to establish proper landing interval is with the overhead, or break pattern. Entering the break at the ship, the flight lead "eyeballs" the downwind aircraft, and times his break accordingly to establish a proper interval. His wingman then breaks to establish proper interval on his flight lead, and so on.

Mess up the landing interval badly, and you will likely hear about it…from the Air Boss, LSO, your skipper, and even your squadron-mates.

Just as you "train like you fight", or use the ball for field landings, the break over the field is training and practice for the boat in establishing landing interval. [And beyond all that, a good break just looks good…if done well.]

 

[HeyJoe]

At sea, the interval between landing aircraft is crucial. The quickest way to recover many aircraft in the shortest amount of time is if they all maintain a precise and proper interval – not too close, nor too far from the landing aircraft ahead.

Weather permitting, the best way to establish proper landing interval is with the overhead, or break pattern. Entering the break at the ship, the flight lead "eyeballs" the downwind aircraft, and times his break accordingly to establish a proper interval. His wingman then breaks to establish proper interval on his flight lead, and so on.

Mess up the landing interval badly, and you will likely hear about it…from the Air Boss, LSO, your skipper, and even your squadron-mates.

Just as you "train like you fight", or use the ball for field landings, the break over the field is training and practice for the boat in establishing landing interval. [And beyond all that, a good break just looks good…if done well.]

Got that right. Tower Flower duty includes using a stopwatch to record interval of your squadron mates. Only pilot who is not penalized for being early (within limits) is the one who presses the deck for the recovery. Boss wants the deck landing aircraft as soon as the waist is wrapped up and ready for business. He's rather see a wave-off than wait for the first aircraft. of course, being right on the money is best.

Speaking of overhead at the field, I interviewed guys from the Cactus Air Force at Guadalcanal who said they brought it ashore from the boat so that they'd stay at a combat speed until the last possible moment* never knowing if they'd get jumped by a marauding Zero (they tried to return the favor at Rabaul whenever possible). One gent disagreed though and said it was developed to keep motors at higher RPMs to keep from fouling the plugs from prolonged descent at idle. Maybe it's a bit of both.

*Yeah, Paddles, that's why I did a 600 knot break at the platform. Yeah, that's the ticket!

 

[hornetframer]

I stand corrected!!!

 

[KBayDog]

Would any of the history have to do with checking out the landing environment at the field prior to landing (with a fast approach)?

Just a WAG; I'm probably so far out in left field that I'm behind the Citgo sign.

 

[Fly Navy]

Just a WAG; I'm probably so far out in left field that I'm behind the Citgo sign.

Dude, money reference.

 

[The Gooch]

Come on...how come nobody else even tried to write the most important part of naval aviation: we do it because it looks cool

I mean, other than sounding cool on the radio, what else is there???

 

[Fly Navy]

Come on...how come nobody else even tried to write the most important part of naval aviation: we do it because it looks cool

I mean, other than sounding cool on the radio, what else is there???

First lesson I learned in Naval Aviation: If you're gonna die, make it look cool.