Definition
A flight test maneuver in which the pilot flies a series of gentle climbs and descents combined with shallow turns left and right, producing a flight path that resembles the over-and-under pattern of a woven basket. It is used to evaluate an aircraft's handling qualities, control response, and stability across small, coordinated changes in pitch and bank.
Plain English
A test flight pattern where the pilot smoothly weaves the aircraft up, down, left, and right to see how well it handles small, gentle control inputs.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft fabric covering, composite repair, and material descriptions for woven cloth used on aircraft.
Derivation
Named after the over-and-under pattern of strips used in basket weaving. The aircraft's flight path traces a similar interlaced pattern in the sky, which is where the maneuver gets its name.
Why Pilots Care
The weave affects fabric strength, dope adhesion, and resistance to tearing under flight loads.
Intuition Check
Basket weave does not mean a decorative pattern painted on the aircraft. It means the actual way the fabric threads are interlaced.
Example Sentence 1
During the certification flight, the test pilot performed a basket weave to assess the aircraft's roll and pitch response.
Example Sentence 2
After the fabric was stretched, the mechanic checked the basket weave alignment to confirm no distortion had occurred.