In aerobatics, the cobra maneuver (or just the cobra), also called dynamic deceleration, among other names (see Etymology), is a dramatic and demanding maneuver in which an airplane flying at a moderate speed abruptly raises its nose momentarily to a vertical and slightly past vertical attitude, causing an extremely ...

While subjective, many pilots consider the "Impossible Turn"—a 180-degree turn back to the runway following an engine failure immediately after takeoff—to be the hardest and most dangerous maneuver in aviation. It is called "impossible" because, at low altitudes, a plane often lacks the energy and altitude to complete a steep bank and return to the strip without stalling. In the realm of intentional maneuvers, the "Lomcovak" is a top contender in aerobatics; it is a family of tumbling figures where the aircraft appears to rotate uncontrollably around all three axes simultaneously, requiring precise gyroscopic timing. For commercial pilots, a "Circle-to-Land" approach in low visibility or high winds (like the old approach into Hong Kong's Kai Tak) is considered the pinnacle of high-stakes, manual flying skill.