Originally Posted by
sika hulmuta
The Hunter is a swept wing aircraft, and indeed I'm sure the TP's are right about turn radius, when the aircraft is flown accurately on the light buffet.
However, should the pull be continued into heavy buffet, which would be easy to do, the aircraft will continue to turn, but energy is being washed off at a very rapid rate. The available speed, hence G, will be less. The only safe way is to keep pumping energy in with max thrust, and keep flying the light buffet. Jesse Pinkman gave a very clear explanation why earlier.
I'm happy to accept all of that.
My original point was simply speculating about whether the pilot judged that his relatively low speed at the top of the loop would mitigate the low apex height by allowing a tighter radius in the second part of the manoeuvre.
We don't know whether he thought that or not, though we know that if he did, he was mistaken.