The Immelmann Turn is one of the
most basic air combat maneuvering tactics that
a fighter pilot can perform. It is primarily a
defensive maneuver and favors aircraft that turn
well.
The above diagrams shows the Spitfire
defending and the ME109 attacking in a dive from
the rear. Keep in mind that the ME109 has more
energy than the spitfire, therefore it is approaching
at a much faster speed than the Spitfire. The
Spitfire levels out gaining speed in preparation
for the maneuver.
Just as the ME109 is about to
acquire a gun solution on the Spitfire, the Spitfire
pulls back on the control stick hard and goes
into a vertical climb.
As the Spitfire goes into it's
climb the ME109 attempts to adjust it's lead angle
to achieve a firing solution but it cannot because
it has too much energy. The Spitfire continues
on into a Loop. At the top of the Loop the Spitfire
rolls over and levels out.
The end result is the ME109 missing
it's chance to strike and the Spitfire evades
the attack this time heading in the opposite direction
of the attacker, gaining some altitude, and creating
some idistance between it and the ME109.
