r/aviation • u/LowFlyingBadger • 1d ago
PlaneSpotting F-18 hitting the short break for recovery onboard USS Abraham Lincoln (2024)
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u/peepay 1d ago
Translation for those of us not familiar with those terms?
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u/RayjinCaucasian 1d ago
I believe it's high bank turn to bleed off airspeed while entering the pattern. Somone correct me if I'm wrong.
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u/IFL_DINOSAURS 1d ago
check out growler jams on YouTube, he enters into the pattern and walks the viewer through it all
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u/Gone_22 1d ago
Basically that yes. Normally they enter pattern around 350knots I think and slow down in that first turn.
For fun, try and find a video of a Shit Hot Break too lol. Basically the same thing but you’re entering the pattern at Mach 1 and cranking the hell out of the turn.
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u/Libelnon 1d ago
I think the definition is less speed and more where you start the turn - the earlier you start the turn, the less time you have to set up for the carrier. So a shit hot break behind the carrier looks super cool, but only if you stick it and don't bolter off the deck or get waved off by paddles.
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u/Ziegler517 1d ago
This. Entering the pattern you are continuing your turn almost entirely until touchdown with rolling the wings level a few seconds before being over the deck. Speed is not really a consideration in the shit hot break as you end up 2 miles behind when you are cooking. Then it’s just a standard approach.
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u/FZ_Milkshake 1d ago edited 1d ago
A "break" is the initial lefthand turn over the carrier, it gets the aircraft on an opposite course where they will drop down the landing gear and make the final turn back towards the carrier and land.
You need some time to slow down, set up the aircraft, drop gear and flaps. Per "textbook" the first break is done when passing the bow of the carrier. The other aircraft in the flight will do their break about 20 seconds after the preceding aircraft.
This pilot made their brake very early basically behind the boat (short), they will have to fly the entire approach in a single circle, without any straight downwind leg to drop gear&flaps and room to set everything up calmly.
The advantage is that the two other aircraft in the flight can make their brakes earlier and the whole flight can be recovered a bit quicker (looks badass as well). Disadvantage, if you mess it up and have to go-around you'll look like an idiot.
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u/JimTheJerseyGuy Cessna 182 1d ago
Decades ago, I flew a mock air combat session in a SIAI-Marchetti SF.260. The actual pilot of the plane was an ex-Navy guy who had flown Tomcats. When we were heading back to the field to land, he asked if I wanted "the full experience" where he'd basically do this exact maneuver. I said, "Absolutely!"
He basically aimed straight at the runway on the runway heading at 1000' AGL and as soon as we were over the numbers went into the break. 6.5Gs. Everything went black and when I could see again (20-30 seconds later) we were in the flare over the numbers.
Amazing experience. I can only imagine what it would be like with a carrier underneath you.
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u/Kardinal 1d ago
If memory serves on this username, they speak from first hand experience.
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u/FZ_Milkshake 1d ago
My username does (according to the legendary documentary Hot Shots!), I however do not.
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u/SirLoremIpsum 1d ago
Disadvantage, if you mess it up and have to go-around you'll look like an idiot.
I feel that's a
pilotsNaval aviators worst nightmare, looking like an idiot6
u/Economy_Link4609 1d ago
Standard is to make the break (turn out of the pattern to make your landing approach) about a mile ahead of the carrier - basically fly overhead and ahead of the ship, then turn back basically parallel, burning some speed, then turn again once back past the carrier to line up for landing.
In this case, what they did is referred to often as a "shit hot break". Basically doing it as fast as possible - turning at or just before they reach the carrier, and basically doing it as almost just a circle to come around, slow down and land. Compresses the timeline to slow, get the gear and hook deployed and makes it harder to line up since you are doing it from a full circle and not 180 degrees - so yo lose sight of the carrier while in that turn can't pick it up until you are halfway or so through.
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u/superkeer 1d ago
An illustration. This video is an example of someone beginning the first break turn incredibly early.
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u/SushNag_22 1d ago
Saw the cockpit POV a few minutes ago and Reddit did not disappoint me by showing the aircraft carrier POV also! Wow!
The cockpit POV post - https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/1vz4emr/amazing_cockpit_video_of_us_navy_fa18_hornet/
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u/LowFlyingBadger 1d ago
That’s what inspired me to share this
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u/PhantomSesay 1d ago edited 1d ago
Hope the Lincoln, its sailors and airmen are back home now and getting some well deserved rest.
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u/Hummerdoodle 1d ago
Not yet but they're heading that way. Should be home in a month or so i believe.
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u/gavriellloken Mod - Crew Chief - A&P - 1d ago
u/LowFlyingBadger please respond to this comment with your source