Run-and-break

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In aviation, a Run-and-break is a procedure used by high-performance aircraft to join an airfield traffic pattern without requiring the aircraft to spend a long time flying at low speed. As such, it is a procedure normally used by military aircraft at military airfields, however because it is also used by ex-military types it may sometimes be performed at civilian airfields.

[edit] The Run

The pilot circles some distance away from airfield at high speed until the Air Traffic Controller confirms that it is safe for the procedure to begin. Once safely cleared, the pilot aligns the aircraft with the active runway and calls "initial" at a set time from the airfield (usually 30 seconds or one minute). The aircraft is then flown at high speed along the runway at low level (typically less than 500 feet AGL). By contrast, approach patterns at civilian airfields in many countries are typically flown at 1,000 feet AGL.

[edit] The Break

At some point during "the run", usually mid-way down the runway, the pilot will fly the aircraft up and away from the runway to position downwind in the pattern to land. This maneuver is performed at high-g; the drag induced by this maneuver causes a rapid reduction of airspeed. During this the aircraft is configured to land. The aircraft therefore arrives late downwind in the pattern at a safe low speed, configured to land, with minimum time spent at lower speeds.