Objective:
An advanced training maneuver designed to develop coordination skills while the pilot's attention is directed at maintaining a pivotal position on a selected pylon. While not truly a ground track maneuver, the objective is similar-to develop the ability to maneuver the airplane accurately while dividing one's attention between the flightpath and the selected points on the ground.. (From AFH pp. 6-11, 6-12) Pilot will learn to stay on a line of reference by varying bank and altitude and remaining coordinated.

Content:
Line-of-sight reference points, estimation of pivotal altitude, coordination, division of attention, changing altitude to remain on line of sight for two pylons.

Equipment:
Airworthy aircraft. PTS. Visual aids (Jeppesen Commercial pp. 14-22, 14-23, AFH 6-11).

Schedule:
Ground lesson: 25 minutes
Instructor demonstration: 15 minutes
Student practice: 25 minutes
Postflight feedback: 5 minutes

Instructor:
Preflight: (see lesson plan) motivate, explain, have student be an armchair pilot, list common errors, discuss.
In flight: Demonstrate proper eights-on-pylons while talking through it. Coach and encourage student.
Postflight: Give feedback and suggestions.

Student:
Preflight: Attend to explanation, be an armchair pilot, answer questions
In flight: Perform new maneuver after demonstration
Postflight: Ask questions.

Completion standards:
Exhibits knowledge, including relationship of ground speed change to performance of the maneuver, determines appropriate pivotal altitude, selects suitable pylons, conducts proper entry, holds pylons to line of sight using appropriate corrections to bank and altitude while avoiding slips and skids.

Review: Turns around a point, steep turns, turning climbs, turning descents
Objective: To learn a maneuver based on pivotal altitude and line-of-sight reference, developing coordination skills and division of attention between flightpath and reference point.
Materials: AFH and Jeppesen pictures

Attention/motivation: (1 minute)
Most of the maneuvers learned thus far have to do with ground tracking, or maintaining particular pitch/bank configs. There's one more skill: using what's called a "pivotal altitude" and varying that altitude to maintain a line of sight. This will give one more tool (alt. variation) to your turning repertoire.

Overview and explanation: (10 minutes)
First, give a general description of how the maneuver looks.
Pivotal altitude: As groundspeed increases, pivotal altitude increases. As groundspeed decreases, pivotal altitude decreases. If the pylon moves forward of the line-of-sight, descend (lowers pivotal altitude and increases speed). If the pylon moves aft of the line of sight, climb (slow down). Stay coordinated: DO NOT USE RUDDER TO HOLD THE PYLON.
1. CLEAR THE AREA
2. Decide on two pylons that are a proper distance apart: 3 to 5 seconds of straight-and-level flight between turns. Perpendicular to the wind direction.
3. Estimate the pivotal altitude (GS2/11.3)
4. Pivotal altitude can also be found experimentally, using the technique described in AFH pp. 6-12, 6-13, It can also be adjusted experimentally while flying the maneuver.
5. Enter from the upwind side (plane is flying downwind), into the diagonal for the first pylon so that the first turn goes upwind.
6. Establish the abeam "line of sight" (explain): probably something to do with the wingtip.
7. Roll into a 30o to 40o bank. (attention outside, in, and around.)
8. Decrease pivotal altitude and reduce angle of bank as you turn into the wind (GS goes down). Keep the line of sight and pylon together via changes in altitude (fore and aft) and bank angle (above/below placement). (attention outside, in, and around.)
9. Straight-and-level between the pylons for 3-5 seconds. (attention outside, in, and around.)
10. Go the other way. (attention outside, in, and around.)
11. Exit on the other diagonal.
12. CHECKLIST!
NOTE: Plane will be high and steep on the downwind side of pylons, and low and shallow on the upwind.

Armchair piloting: (5 minutes)
Instructor will describe where the plane is as st pretends to do the maneuver, concentrating simply on climbing or descending depending on where the pylon is compared to the line of sight.

Common errors: (2 minutes)
Selection of pylons w/o emerg. landing area
Faulty entry
Poor planning, orientation, div. of attention
Uncoordinated use of rudder
Improper wind and altitude/bank correction

Oral evaluation/quiz and discussion questions: (2 minutes)
Q: How far apart should the pylons be, and what orientation should they have to the wind?
Q: What's the initial pivotal altitude in the Arrow? (Cruise is about 110 Kts.) A: 1070 ft.
Q: Do you enter while going upwind, or downwind?
Q: If the pylon goes behind the line of sight, what do you do?
Q: If the pylon goes before the line of sight, what do you do?