It's amazing how many people think this particular manoeuvere is executed
along the runway. The way I was shown, and the countless hundreds I have seen, which is also the way it is depicted in the JSP318 (Military Flying Regulations), is down the
dead side of the runway with the break being executed across the runway from dead side to live.
It was introduced to allow military aircraft returning back to base to keep the speed up to the last possible minute, thereby causing them to be less susceptible to interception by any enemy fighters loitering in the vicinity. Can't say I've seen that many Spam Cans with 20mm cannon waiting to shoot up returning Yaks and Extras
CM