Pylon turn

A pylon turn is part of a maneuver also known as "long-line loiter"[1] which can be used to deliver messages or packages by plane without needing to land.

It was used during Operation Auca and depicted in the film End of the Spear, to give gifts to the Huaorani people of Ecuador where there was no landing strip.

The first notable combat use of the pylon turn was in the Vietnam War in 1964,[2] with the development of the AC-47 Spooky gunship, which could fire miniguns mounted on the left side of the aircraft as the pilot circled the target.

Using this maneuver enabled gunners to fire continuously and efficiently at a stationary target for an extended period of time, without needing to make several passes.

Another advantage of pylon turns was that the gunfire was accurate enough to be used even in close proximity to friendly troops, which had never before been possible in air power.