Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

In a lazy eight maneuver, at which point should the aircraft be at minimum airspeed?

1. 45° point.

2. 90° point.

3. 180° point.

4. Start of the maneuver.

The correct answer is: 90° point.

In a lazy eight maneuver, the aircraft reaches its minimum airspeed at the 90° point. This occurs because the maneuver consists of two smooth, flowing arcs that create a figure-eight shape in the sky, where the aircraft transitions from climbing to diving and vice versa. At the 90° point, the aircraft is transitioning from the upward climb into the first downward arc. This is where the aircraft's vertical lift is minimized as it begins to lose altitude, causing the airspeed to decrease to its lowest point in the maneuver. The design of the lazy eight requires that the pilot maintain control of the aircraft’s energy state, and understanding when to anticipate minimum airspeed is crucial to executing the maneuver effectively and safely. Recognizing where minimum airspeed occurs is essential in practicing the lazy eight, as it helps the pilot avoid stalling during the maneuver, ensuring a smooth and controlled flight path. The other points, including the start of the maneuver and the 45° and 180° points, experience varying levels of airspeed that do not drop to the minimum like at the 90° point.