Eights on pylons

Commercial pilot applicants are required to fly eights on pylons to demonstrate an intuitive control of the airplane, so it’s ironic that mastering the maneuver starts with an equation.

Pilots perform eights on pylons at pivotal altitude, a groundspeed-dependent height above ground level that constantly changes as a tailwind becomes a headwind and then a tailwind again along the figure-eight track. From a pilot’s perspective, it’s the altitude you must fly to keep a ground reference point at a fixed position off your wing.

Imagine a laser pointer mounted at eye level, perpendicular to the airplane’s centerline. Your job is to keep the dot pointed at a tree on the ground. In zero wind, you’ll fly a level circle. In a tailwind, the dot will drift above and ahead of the tree unless you adjust the controls. You must steepen the bank and climb. Turning upwind, the bank shallows and the airplane descends.

To estimate pivotal altitude, square the groundspeed in knots and divide by 11.3. But leave your calculator on the ground—not just an academic exercise, eights on pylons are a pat-your-head-rub-your-belly maneuver measuring your ability to maintain coordination and situational awareness while controlling the airplane precisely in three dimensions. Easy, right?

1. Estimate pivotal attitude
   Square the groundspeed in knots and divide by 11.3, then add ground elevation for your mean sea level altitude. Consider the pivotal altitude for the upwind, downwind, and crosswind segments, and set a hard altitude limit you won’t descend below.
2. Choose pylons
   Find two ground references that are spaced far enough apart that you’ll fly three to five seconds straight and level between the pylons. Pylons should be easily identifiable and aligned perpendicular to the wind.
3. Enter the maneuver
   Enter on the diagonal with a tailwind. When the first pylon appears to be just ahead of the wing tip at your reference point, begin the turn. Bank angles should not exceed 40 degrees.
4. Reverse it
   Roll out to fly diagonally to the next pylon, repeating the circle in the opposite direction.
5. Fly the wing
   As the airplane turns upwind, groundspeed decreases. You’ll need to descend to keep the pylon at your reference point, constantly correcting and adjusting pitch and bank to account for the gradually changing wind. When a pylon appears ahead of your reference point, descend. When a pylon appears high, shallow the bank. When a pylon appears behind your reference point, climb. When a pylon appears low, steepen the bank. Be sure to maintain proper coordination throughout the maneuver.