Power dive

nounStandard termAviation

A power dive is a steep, rapid descent accelerated by the aircraft's engines running at high thrust.

A power dive is a maneuver where a pilot points the aircraft nose-down while keeping the engines engaged at significant power. Unlike a gliding dive which relies solely on gravity, this maneuver rapidly builds airspeed, often approaching the structural limits of the airframe. It is primarily used in combat aviation to evade threats or close distance quickly.

Heard on the job

He initiated a power dive to break the radar lock and get below the cloud deck.