Dive brake

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Dive brakes are meant to slow down an aircraft when in a dive. They usually consist of a metal part that is raised against the air flow, thus creating drag and slowing the aircraft.

They were mostly used on dive bombers, which needed to slow down in order to achieve some accuracy. With the disappearance of dive bombers, dive brakes have disappeared. However, most modern combat aircraft are equipped with air brakes, which are nearly identical in design.