The scissors is a series of reversing turns executed by a defending pilot to force an attacker to fly out in front. By continuously crossing flight paths, the defender forces the attacker into a high-angle-of-attack, low-speed situation. It relies heavily on roll rate and slow-speed handling to bleed off the attacker's energy and force an overshoot.
Heard on the job
He came in too hot on my six, so I pulled into a flat scissors and watched him slide right past my canopy.
Insider tip
The pilot with the better low-speed control and roll rate usually wins a scissors engagement.
Also heard as
- rolling scissors
- flat scissors