Archer Commercial Maneuvers

Question 1

Explain how to perform a chandelle.

Answer 1

The objective of learning to perform chandelles is to develop smoothness, coordination, orientation, division of attention and control techinques while executing a maximum performance, climbing, 180° maneuver.

To diagram of the maneuver, begin by writing the starting airspeed, power settings, and configuration: 100 KIAS; power setting required to maintain 100 KIAS, then full throttle; clean configuration. Then, draw the wind blowing parallel with the ground reference line.

Chandelles are to be accomplished at an entry altitude that will allow completion no lower than 1,500’ AGL, and consist of one maximum performance climbing turn beginning from straight-and-level flight, and ending at the completion of a precise 180° turn in a wings-level, nose-high attitude at the minimum controllable airspeed.

The airplane should gain the most altitude possible for a given degree of bank & power setting without stalling.

1. Perform two 90° clearing turns
2. 100 KIAS (approx. 2300 RPM), maintain altitude
3. Clean configuration flow
4. Choose a reference point off wing
5. Establish / maintain 30° bank
6. Full throttle – increase pitch to attain approx. 10-12° pitch up at 90° point
   
   • 1st 90° of turn – Bank = constant 30°, Pitch = increasing to 10-12° pitch up
7. 90° point – maintain pitch, reduce bank angle to attain level flight at 180° point
   
   • 2nd 90° of turn – Pitch = constant 10-12° pitch up, Bank = decreasing to level flight
8. 180° point – wings level, minimum controllable airspeed
9. Accelerate while maintaining level flight
10. “Cruise Checklist”

Practical Test Standards:

Airspeed: Just above stall
Heading: Rollout at 180° point ±10°

Common Errors include:

• Failure to adequately clear the area
• Too shallow an initial bank, resulting in a stall
• Too steep an initial bank, resulting in failure to gain maximum performance
• Allowing the actual bank to increase after establishing initial bank angle
• Failure to start the recovery at the 90° point in the turn
• Allowing the pitch attitude to increase as the bank is rolled out during the second 90° of turn
• Removing all of the bank before the 180° point is reached
• Nose low on recovery, resulting in too much airspeed
• Control roughness
• Poor coordination (slipping or skidding)
• Stalling at any point during the maneuver
• Execution of a steep turn instead of a climbing maneuver
• Failure to scan for other aircraft
• Attempting to perform the maneuver by instrument refernce rather than visual reference

Question 2

Explain how to perform lazy eights.

Answer 2

The objective of learning to perform lazy eights is to develop smoothness, coordination, orientation, division of attention and control techniques while excuting maximum performance flight situations.

To diagram of the maneuver, begin by writing the starting airspeed, power settings, and configuration: 100 KIAS; power setting required to maintain 100 KIAS at 2,300 RPM; and clean configuration. Then, draw the wind blowing parallel with the ground reference line.

Lazy Eights are to be accomplished at an entry altitude that will allow the task to be completed no lower than 1,500’ AGL. The applicant is required to maintain coordinated flight throughout the maneuver, with a constant change of pitch and roll rate.

The maneuver requires constantly changing control pressures necessitated by changing combinations of climbing and descending turns at varying speeds. Pick a road or ground reference line that is parallel with the wind that will allow you to turn into the wind when beginning the maneuver. Select reference points of 45, 90, and 135 degrees respectively.

1. Perform two 90° clearing turns
2. 100 KIAS (approx. 2300 RPM), maintain altitude
3. Clean configuration flow
4. Choose a reference point off of the wing
5. Simultaneously increase pitch and bank (slowly)
6. 45° point – 15° pitch up, 15° bank
7. Reduce pitch / increase bank
8. 90° point – level pitch, 30° bank - min. speed (5-10 knots above stall)
9. Continue reducing pitch and reduce bank
10. 135° point – 15° pitch down, 15° bank
11. 180° point – level flight, entry airspeed and altitude
12. Repeat in opposite direction
13. “Cruise Checklist”

Practical Test Standards:

Airspeed: ±10 KIAS
Altitude: ±100’
Heading: ±10°

Common Errors include:

• Failure to adequately clear the area
• Using the nose, or top of engine cowl, instead of the true longitudinal axis, resulting in unsymmetrical loops
• Watching the airplane instead of the reference points
• Inadequate planning, resulting in the peaks of the loops both above and below the horizon not coming in the proper place
• Control roughness, usually caused by attempts to counteract poor planning
• Persistent gain or loss of altitude with the completion of each eight
• Attempting to perform the maneuver rhythmically, resulting in poor pattern symmetry
• Allowing the aiplane to “fall” out of the tops of the loops rather than flying the airplane through the maneuver
• Slipping and/or skidding
• Failure to scan for other traffic

Question 3

Explain how to perform steep spirals.

Answer 3

The objective of learning steep spirals is to improve pilot techniques for power off turns, wind drift control planning, orientation and division of attention and has practical application in providing a procedure for dissipating altitude while remaining over a selected sport in preparation for landing—especially forced landings.

To diagram of the maneuver, begin by writing the starting airspeed, power settings, and configuration: 90 KIAS; power setting required to maintain altitude at 90 KIAS; and clean configuration. Then, draw the aircraft flying into the wind above the pylon. Consider also diagraming the maneuver from above, explaining how the bank will steepen at different portions of the turn.

A steep spiral is a gliding turn during which a constant radius around a point on the ground is maintained with the steepest bank never exceeding 60°.

1. Altitude – at least 3,000’ AGL
2. Perform two 90° clearing turns
3. 90 KIAS (approx. 1800 RPM), maintain altitude
4. Clean configuration flow
5. Choose visual reference point
6. Reduce throttle to idle
7. Track at least three constant radius circles around reference point
8. Airspeed – constant
9. Bank angle – adjust for winds, not to exceed 60°
10. Clear engine once every 360° turn
11. Recover – roll out on specified heading (or visual reference)
12. “Cruise Checklist”

Practical Test Standards:

Airspeed: ±10 KIAS
Heading: Rollout towards specified heading or point, ±10°

Common Errors include:

• Failure to adequately clear the area
• Failure to maintain constant airspeed
• Poor coordination, resulting in skidding and/or slipping
• Inadequate wind drift correction
• Failure to coordinate the controls so that no increase/decrease in speed results when straight glide is resumed
• Failure to scan for other traffic
• Failure to maintain orientation

Question 4

Explain how to perform eights on pylons.

Answer 4

The objective of learning to perform eights on pylons is to develop coordination skills while the pilot’s attention is directed at maintaining a pivotal position on a selected pylon. Pivotal altitude is the altitude at which the line of sight apparently ceased to move across the ground. There is a specific altitude at which, when the airplane turns at a given groundspeed, a projection of the sighting reference line to the selected point on the ground will appear to pivot on that point.

To diagram of the maneuver, begin by writing the starting airspeed, power settings, and configuration: 100 KIAS; power setting required to maintain 100 KIAS at 2,300 RPM; and clean configuration. Then, draw the wind blowing perpendicular to the imaginary line between the pylons. The airplane enters the maneuver with the wind at its back.

Eights on Pylons are to be accomplished at the appropriate pivotal altitude (groundspeed²/11.3), governed by the aircraft’s groundspeed. The applicant is required to maintain coordinated flight while flying a figure eight pattern which holds the selected pylons using the appropriate pivotal altitude. At the steepest point, the angle of bank should be approximately 30-40°.

1. Enter pivotal altitude (approx. 900’ AGL at 100 KIAS, approx. 2300 RPM)
2. Perform two 90° clearing turns
3. Clean configuration flow
4. Select two pylons to allow for minimal time spent wings level between the two
5. Enter maneuver on a 45° midpoint downwind
6. Apply appropriate pitch corrections to compensate for changes in groundspeed and to maintain line of sight reference with the pylon (pitch forward if point moves toward nose and pitch back if point moves toward tail)
7. Begin rollout to allow the airplane to proceed diagonally between the pylons at a 45° angle.
8. Begin second turn in the opposite direction of the first
9. Exit maneuver on entry heading
10. “Cruise Checklist”

Common errors include:

• Failure to adequately clear the area
• Skidding or slipping in turns (whether trying to hold the pylon with rudder or not)
• Excessive gain or loss of altitude
• Over concentration on the pylon and failure to observe traffic
• Poor choice of pylons
• Not entering the pylon turns into the wind
• Failure to assume a heading when flying between pylons that will compensate sufficiently for drift
• Failure to time the bank so that the turn entry is completed with the pylon in position
• Abrupt control usage
• Inability to select pivotal altitude

Question 5

Explain how to perform an accelerated stall.

Answer 5

Accelerated stalls are accomplished at an altitude that allows completion no lower than 3,000 feet AGL. A smooth transition should be made from cruise attitude to a bank angle of 45°, maintaining coordinated turning flight, while increasing elevator back pressure steadily to induce the stall.

1. Perform two 90° clearing turns
2. Slow to approximately 60 KIAS (during clearing turns)
3. Clean configuration flow
4. Establish a coordinated 45° bank turn
5. Slowly reduce power to idle
6. Maintain altitude to induce stall
7. Recover at the onset (buffeting) stall condition
8. Simultaneously reduce AOA, max power, and level wings
9. “Cruise Checklist”