Minimum-time 180° turns of aircraft

Three-dimensional minimum-time 180° turns of a fighter aircraft are computed for several initial velocitiesV0 and altitudesh0. It is shown that the optimum turns consist of split -S maneuvers forV0≦V10, three-dimensional maneuvers forV10<V0<V20, and half-loops forV0≧V20, withV10,V20 being functions of altitude or thrust/weight ratio.