The Hammerhead is a stall maneuver
that requires a great deal of energy to execute.
If you do not have enough speed or you pursuer
has more energy than you the end result can be
disastrous.
The above diagrams shows the ME109
defending and the Spitfire attacking from the
rear. Keep in mind that the ME109 has more energy
than the spitfire, therefore it is seperating
and gaining distance from it's attacker. The ME109
levels out gaining speed in preparation for the
manuever.
Just when the Spitfire is about
2k (2,000 yards) away the ME109 pulls back on
the control stick hard and goes into a vertical
climb.
The Spitfire makes a bold move
and pursues the ME109 in the climb. The Spitfire
assumes it is gaining on the ME109 as it makes
a lead angle adjustment cutting the gap to 1.5k.
The ME109 continues its climb making sure it is
keeping a perfectly vertical flight path.
As the ME109 bleeds out speed
and starts to stall the pilot goes hard rudder
and flips it over pointing the nose of the aircraft
back at its pursuer. The Spitfire is also starting
to stall and ended up about 1k from it's intended
target.
As the Spitfire stalls and it's
pilot struggles to loop it over, the ME109 is
already diving on it's target having reversed
the situation. As the Spitfire exposes its belly
the ME109 acquires a firing solution on the pursuer.
