Lazy Eight
The lazy eight is a graceful maneuver of two opposite 180° climbing-and-descending turns, with constantly changing bank, pitch, and airspeed. It looks like a wing-tip tracing a slow figure-eight on the horizon and demands continuous, smoothly varying control coordination — no two instants are the same.
Step by step
- 1Pick a prominent point on the horizon (the 90° reference) and clear the area. Establish entry airspeed in level flight.
- 2Begin a climbing turn toward the reference point, slowly increasing bank and pitch together.
- 3At the 45° point, the pitch is highest and the bank is increasing through about 15°.
- 4At the 90° point, the airplane is at the lowest airspeed, the steepest bank (~30°), the nose passing level through the horizon, and pointed at the reference.
- 5Past 90°, the nose continues down while the bank decreases; airspeed increases as you descend.
- 6At the 180° point, the wings are level, the airplane is back at entry altitude/airspeed but heading the opposite way — then immediately begin the mirror-image loop the other direction.
- 7Each 180° half should be symmetrical with the other; the whole maneuver is slow, smooth, and continuous.
Tips & common errors
- Nothing is held constant — bank, pitch, and airspeed change smoothly every second; aim for symmetry between the two loops.
- The 90° point is the key checkpoint: lowest speed, steepest bank (~30°), nose slicing through the horizon, over the reference point.
- Common error: abrupt or mechanical inputs; the maneuver should look effortless and "lazy."
- Keep it coordinated — the changing speed and bank make rudder demands change throughout.
ACS completion standards
The commonly-tested tolerances for this maneuver. Always confirm the current ACS for your certificate.
- Maintain coordinated flight throughout with continuously varying bank and pitch.
- At the 180° points: altitude within ±100 feet of entry, airspeed within ±10 knots of entry, heading within ±10°.
- Keep the maximum bank at the 90° point at approximately 30°; symmetry between loops.
FAA source
FAA-S-ACS-7 (Commercial Pilot ACS), Task: Lazy Eights; Airplane Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-3, Chapter 10.
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
- Power-Off 180° Accuracy Approach & LandingA Commercial maneuver: from a downwind position abeam the intended touchdown point at pattern altitude, you reduce the power to idle and fly a gliding approach — judging the wind and energy — to touch down within a tight tolerance of a specified point, with no power added.
- ChandelleA chandelle is a maximum-performance 180° climbing turn that ends at the slowest controllable airspeed with wings level. It demonstrates planning, smooth coordination through changing airspeed and load, and precise control as you trade airspeed for altitude.
- Steep SpiralA steep spiral is a constant-radius gliding turn of at least three 360° turns around a ground reference point, with power at idle. It teaches power-off glide control and wind-drift correction (like a steep spiral down to an emergency landing site) while maintaining a safe, constant airspeed.
- 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.
Keep studying
Turn maneuver knowledge into a passing checkride
Drill ACS-aligned questions and ask the AI tutor, Ace, anything — free to start, no account needed.
Take a free practice test →