Cobra maneuver

Cobra maneuver / Dynamic deceleration

The cobra maneuver performed by a Swedish Saab 35 Draken. The footage displays the maneuver in profile next to a non-maneuvering aircraft for reference, showing how the maneuver affects the speed of the aircraft and how it can be used to make a pursuing aircraft overshoot.

In aerobatics, the cobra maneuver (or just the cobra), also called dynamic deceleration,^[1] among other names (see § Etymology), is a dramatic and demanding maneuver in which an airplane flying at a moderate speed abruptly raises its nose momentarily to a vertical and slightly past vertical attitude, causing an extremely high angle of attack and making the plane into a full-body air brake, momentarily stalling the plane, before dropping back to normal position, during which the aircraft does not change effective altitude.

The maneuver relies on the ability of the plane to be able to quickly change angle of attack (alpha) without overloading the airframe,^[2] and sufficient engine thrust to maintain nearly constant altitude through the entire move,^[3] but also post-stall stability and aerodynamics that allows for the recovery to level flight. The maneuver demands accurate pitch control, alpha stability and engine-versus-inlet compatibility for the aircraft, as well as a high skill level on the part of the pilot.

The cobra maneuver is an example of supermaneuverability,^[4] specifically poststall maneuvering. The Herbst maneuver and the helicopter maneuver are similar post-stall maneuvers that are often executed by 4.5th generation and 5th generation fighter aircraft employing thrust vectoring.^[5]

The maneuver is typically performed at air shows,^[6] but could be used as a last-ditch maneuver to force a chaser to overshoot in close-range air combat.^[2][7] The maneuver has never been verified in real combat, although it has been used during mock dogfights^[2] and border protection.^[8][9]