Eights on Pylons
Eights on pylons (also called eights-on) is the most advanced ground reference maneuver. Instead of holding a constant distance, you hold an imaginary line of sight from your eye, out the wingtip reference, onto each pylon — which requires flying at the pivotal altitude. The pivotal altitude changes with groundspeed, so you climb and descend slightly to keep the line of sight pinned to the pylon.
Step by step
- 1Compute an approximate pivotal altitude: groundspeed (knots) squared ÷ 11.3 (or GS in mph squared ÷ 15), giving height in feet above the surface.
- 2Choose two pylons roughly perpendicular to the wind and far enough apart to allow a brief straight segment between turns.
- 3Enter on a downwind heading between the pylons at the calculated pivotal altitude.
- 4Establish the line of sight: place the wingtip reference on the first pylon and bank to begin the turn.
- 5If the pylon appears to move ahead of the reference line, you are too high — descend; if it falls behind, you are too low — climb. Adjust pitch/altitude, not rudder, to hold the line of sight.
- 6Because pivotal altitude rises with groundspeed, you naturally climb on the upwind portion and descend on the downwind portion of each turn.
- 7Cross between pylons wings level, then pick up the line of sight on the second pylon and repeat to fly the figure-eight.
Tips & common errors
- Hold the pylon with PITCH (altitude), not yaw — slipping or skidding to hold the pylon is the classic error.
- Pivotal altitude depends only on groundspeed, not on the distance to the pylon.
- If the pylon moves forward of the wingtip, you are above pivotal altitude; if it moves aft, you are below it.
- Select pylons clear of obstructions and at a safe height; keep clearing for traffic.
ACS completion standards
The commonly-tested tolerances for this maneuver. Always confirm the current ACS for your certificate.
- Maintain pivotal altitude, holding the line of sight on the pylon with no slip or skid (turns typically 30°–40° bank).
- Apply smooth, continuous corrections; divide attention between the pylons and aircraft control.
- Hold airspeed and a coordinated flight path; correct for wind to keep the eights symmetrical.
FAA source
FAA-S-ACS-7 (Commercial Pilot ACS), Task: Eights on Pylons; Airplane Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-3, Chapter 6.
This is an original, plain-English study summary grounded in the public-domain FAA Airman Certification Standards and FAA handbooks cited above. It is a study aid, not flight instruction, and not a substitute for the official ACS, the handbooks, your aircraft’s POH/AFM, or a certificated flight instructor.
Related maneuvers
- Rectangular CourseThe rectangular course teaches you to fly a constant, equal distance from a square or rectangular ground feature while correcting for wind. It directly simulates the airport traffic pattern, so it builds the division of attention and wind-drift correction you use on every approach.
- S-Turns Across a RoadS-turns are a series of equal half-circles flown on opposite sides of a straight ground reference line. The goal is to keep each semicircle the same size despite the wind, which forces you to vary the bank continuously throughout each turn.
- Turns Around a PointYou fly two or more complete, constant-radius circles around a single ground reference point while correcting for wind. The bank angle must change continuously through every 360° so the distance from the point never varies.
- Normal Takeoff & ClimbThe normal takeoff and climb is the baseline departure from a paved runway with little or no wind and no obstacles. You accelerate on the centerline, rotate at the recommended speed, and climb at the best-rate speed (Vy) while staying coordinated.
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