Plain English Meaning

Flying a series of equal half-circles back and forth across a straight line on the ground, like a road, while keeping the same height. The pilot adjusts how steeply the airplane is banked during each turn to keep the half-circles the same size despite the wind.

Full Definition

A ground reference maneuver in which the airplane flies a continuous series of opposite-direction half-circles of equal size on either side of a straight reference line on the ground, while maintaining a constant altitude. The pilot varies bank angle throughout each half-circle to compensate for wind drift, so that each half-circle traces an equal, symmetrical pattern over the ground.

Context Anchor

Seen in ground-reference training, usually practiced over a straight road, fence line, or other line on the ground.