As such, it is a procedure normally used by military aircraft at military airfields, however because it is also used by ex-military types it may sometimes be performed at civilian airfields, although it can be seen as comedic when performed by slow moving civilian aircraft, such as a PA-28.This maneuver is also known as initial and pitch; or in the US as an overhead maneuver or overhead break.
The pilot circles some distance away from airfield at high speed until the air traffic controller confirms that it is safe for the procedure to begin.
Once safely cleared, the pilot aligns the aircraft with the active runway and calls initial at a set time from the airfield (usually 30 seconds or one minute).
The aircraft is then flown at high speed along the deadside of the runway in the landing direction at a low altitude, typically less than 1,000 feet (300 m) AGL.
The Red Arrows sometimes perform a spectacular variation on the run and break, which includes a 9-ship formation loop during the run segment with the aircraft breaking to alternate sides of the runway in a staggered fashion.