split S

Diagram of a split S maneuver.

Named for the resemblance of the aircraft's flightpath to the upper or lower half of the letter S.

split S (plural split Ses)

1. (aviation) An aerobatic maneuver in which an aircraft, starting from upright level flight, rolls inverted and then performs one-half of an inside loop, ending up in upright level flight in the opposite direction at a lower altitude; an Immelmann turn performed in reverse.