▁the ▁attack ing ▁aircraft ▁for ▁another ▁attack . ▁ ▁In ▁modern ▁aer ob at ics , ▁an ▁Im mel mann ▁turn ▁( also ▁known ▁as ▁a ▁roll - off - the - top , ▁or ▁simply ▁an ▁Im mel mann ) ▁is ▁an ▁aer ob atic ▁man eu ver ▁that ▁results ▁in ▁level ▁flight ▁in ▁the ▁opposite ▁direction ▁at ▁a ▁higher ▁alt itude . ▁ ▁Historical ▁combat ▁man eu ver ▁ ▁In ▁World ▁War ▁I ▁aer ial ▁combat , ▁an ▁Im mel mann ▁turn ▁( named ▁for ▁the ▁German ▁air ▁ace ▁Max ▁Im mel mann ) ▁was ▁a ▁man eu ver ▁used ▁after ▁an ▁attack ▁on ▁another ▁aircraft ▁to ▁re position ▁the ▁attack ing ▁aircraft ▁for ▁another ▁attack . ▁ ▁After ▁making ▁a ▁high - speed ▁div ing ▁attack ▁on ▁an ▁enemy , ▁the ▁attack er ▁would ▁then ▁clim b ▁back ▁up ▁past ▁the ▁enemy ▁aircraft , ▁and ▁just ▁short ▁of ▁the ▁st all , ▁apply ▁full ▁rud der ▁to ▁y aw ▁his ▁aircraft ▁around . ▁ ▁This ▁put ▁his ▁aircraft ▁facing ▁down ▁at ▁the ▁enemy ▁aircraft , ▁making ▁another ▁high - speed ▁div ing ▁pass ▁possible . ▁This ▁is ▁a ▁difficult ▁man eu ver ▁to ▁perform ▁properly , ▁as ▁it ▁involves ▁precise ▁control ▁of ▁the ▁aircraft ▁at ▁low ▁speed . ▁With ▁practice ▁and ▁proper ▁use ▁of ▁all ▁of ▁the ▁f ighter ' s ▁controls , ▁the ▁man eu ver ▁could ▁be ▁used ▁to ▁re position ▁the ▁attack ing ▁aircraft ▁to ▁d ive ▁back ▁down ▁in ▁any ▁direction ▁desired . ▁ ▁In ▁modern