Definition
A ground reference maneuver in which the airplane is flown in a figure-eight pattern around two ground objects (pylons) of similar size, spaced a short distance apart. The pilot flies a constant-radius turn around each pylon, applying wind correction throughout to maintain symmetry, while the airplane crosses the line between the pylons after each turn. Altitude, airspeed, and bank angle are managed to keep the two loops of the eight equal in size and shape regardless of wind direction.
Plain English
Flying a figure-eight pattern on the ground by circling around two objects, one for each loop, while adjusting your turn to keep both circles the same size despite the wind pushing you around.
Context Anchor
Seen in ground reference maneuver training, where a student practices judging wind drift, turn shape, and airplane position by looking outside at selected points on the ground.
Derivation
The figure-eight shape gives the maneuver its name. 'Pylon' comes from the Greek 'pylon' meaning gateway or tower; in aviation it refers to a fixed ground reference point used to fly around.
Why Pilots Care
Develops precise control of ground track and wind correction at low altitude, skills directly transferable to traffic patterns, approaches, and any low-level navigation.
Grounding Statement
Picture two clear ground points with the airplane tracing a sideways 8 around them while the pilot keeps correcting for the wind.
Intuition Check
Do not assume the pylons must be actual towers or posts. In this FAA context, a pylon is simply a selected ground point used as a reference for the maneuver.
Example Sentence 1
The CFI demonstrated eights around pylons by selecting two trees about a quarter mile apart and flying equal-sized loops around each one.
Example Sentence 2
During the checkride the examiner asked for eights around pylons to evaluate the applicant's ability to maintain a constant ground track while compensating for a crosswind.