The Official F-15 Strike Eagle Handbook

by Richard Sheffield

Split-S or Descending Half-Loop

Minimum Speed: None

Minimum Altitude: 10,000 feet (fully loaded on afterburners); 3,000 feet (no bomb load and 55-percent power)

A Split-S is used to quickly obtain a reverse heading and pick up speed and energy in the process. Make sure you have enough altitude.

• You're flying straight and level (1).

• Apply full left or right stick (2).

• Stop the aircraft's rotation once you reach an inverted position and you're flying straight and level upside down (3).

• Pull back on the stick and hold until the horizon comes up. Stop when the horizon is level (4).

The Split-S maneuver is one you can use to quickly lose altitude while making a 180-degree turn.

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