performance of stunts, and by dive bombers to approach a target quickly while minimizing exposure to enemy fire before the dive, and in order to increase accuracy of the bombing. A dive may also be used as an emergency maneuver, for example to extinguish an engine fire. Pilots of the World War II dive bomber known as the Stuka particularly noted the effects of the dive. Beginning at a height of , the Stuka would roll 180°, automatically nosing into a dive. The aircraft would then dive at a 60-90° angle, holding a constant speed of , until it had gone some 90% of the way to the ground, releasing its bombs at a minimum height of . Once the pilot released the bomb and initiated an automatic pull-out mechanism by depressing a knob on the control column, the aircraft automatically began a six g pullout. The tremendous g-forces to which pilots were subjected during this maneuver could lead to momentary blackouts, necessitating the inclusion of mechanisms to automate pullout from the dive while the pilot was unconscious. See also Corkscrew landing – Rapid spiraling descent typically used for avoiding ground-to-air weapons during conflicts Teardrop penetration – Combines a teardrop turn with a descent, usually under instrument flight rules Takeoff Cruise Notes References External links FAA terminal procedures index Flight school ground course on landing A helicopter school autorotation guide FAA rotorcraft pilot testing standards FAA airplane pilot testing standards Flight phases