Fighter's and landing procedures

[Cam]

Me and another spotter have noticed that when fighter jets are landing they do a fly-by at about 1000 feet, then break off, spin around and land. Anyone know why they do that?

[Sweetheart]

Me and another spotter have noticed that when fighter jets are landing they do a fly-by at about 1000 feet, then break off, spin around and land. Anyone know why they do that?

Forgot to reset there altimeters?

[Top_Gun]

they do this for spacing, it's more common for the Navy boys doing the "break" over the carrier. Each jet will break 3 seconds after the last one to give spacing to land.

The AF does it as well, but the term is called a "carrier break" and is usually done at 1000-1500 AGL.

Kevin Whitehead of Jetwash images has a great shot from El Centro.

http://www.jetwashimages.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=37&pos=9

[seahawk]

They do it bacuse the arrive in formation, so they can get the spacing right. And for show-off. However depending on the Air Force you often see planes ,that arrive alone, doing straight in landings.

[Jet-fighters.Net]

Air Force pilots also call it a "Tactical Break" it has 2 reasons that it is done.

1. To induce separation for landing from the formation that they were in.

2. Allows the pilots to get a visual overview of the airfield prior to landing in case of hostile forces nearby.