Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

What is the primary control used while performing eights-on-pylons?

1. Aileron.

2. Rudder.

3. Elevator.

4. Throttle.

The correct answer is: Elevator.

In performing eights-on-pylons, the primary control used is the elevator. This maneuver involves flying a figure-eight pattern around two pylons while maintaining precise control over altitude and airspeed. The elevator is crucial for managing the aircraft's pitch, which directly affects the climb and descent during the turns around the pylons. Pilots must use the elevator to maintain the desired altitude as they bank into the turns and to manage the aircraft's performance adequately throughout the maneuver. While the ailerons are used to initiate and maintain the bank during the turns, and the rudder is important for coordination and controlling yaw, the elevator is the control that pilots primarily manipulate to influence the vertical motion and ensure that their altitude remains consistent as they navigate the figure-eight pattern. The throttle can also play a role in adjusting power settings during the maneuver; however, it is not the primary control focused on maintaining altitude. Therefore, the elevator is essential for effective execution of eights-on-pylons.