Immelmann turn

noun

A WWI-era fighter pilot maneuver resembling the aerobatic wingover or hammer-head turn, originally developed by Max Immelmann.

Meanings

nounImmelmann turn (plural Immelmann turns)

plural Immelmann turns

  1. archaicaeronauticsA WWI-era fighter pilot maneuver resembling the aerobatic wingover or hammer-head turn, originally developed by Max Immelmann.

    Synonyms: Immelmann, Immelmann maneuver

  2. aeronauticsThe roll-off-the-top aerobatic maneuver, where an aircraft in upright level flight pulls up through one-half of an inside loop until in level inverted flight and then rolls upright, ending up in upright level flight in the opposite direction at a higher altitude; a reverse split S.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA WWI-era fighter pilot maneuver resembling the aerobatic wingover or hammer-head turn, originally developed by Max Immelmann.

Origin

Named after the German pilot Max Immelmann.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Immelmann turn. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Immelmann%20turn

MLA

“Immelmann turn.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Immelmann%20turn. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Immelmann turn,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Immelmann%20turn.

Source: Immelmann turn on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.