Figure 8 Landing Approaches

(Being Updated, Some mods still being added…)

A Figure 8 approach is the most common approach pattern for Paragliders. The figure 8s are done to remain in the proper zone, downwind of the target landing area with the goal of achieving the correct height for a final approach toward a landing zone or landing spot. The figure 8s keep you downwind of the target landing spot until a threshold height is reached. The expression “figure 8s” depicts the gliders pattern relative to the ground. The 8s might be wider with loops at the ends, or they might be a true 8 over the ground. The presence or lack of wind will affect the size of the reversing loop turns and the ground speed while holding the figure 8 pattern.

Adjustments to the 8s include the size, location and distance downwind from the spot. In light winds, the groundspeed will be higher for all sections of the pattern. In additon, in light or zero winds, there is little or no crabbing in the cross wind legs, so the turns will be more than 180 degrees. So, in light winds, it is better to do a slightly wider 8 pattern and to do so further back from the spot. Conversely, in stronger winds crabbing will be prevalent on the cross wind legs and the loop turns will require the turns to be far less than 180 degrees. This can allow for narrower loops and the ability to do the 8s closer to the target spot.

A common problem with pilots learning a figure 8 approach is the tendency to creep forward as a result of doing “S” turns instead of doing full figure 8s. It is important to remain behind the planned distance downwind of the spot. Correctly done figure 8s will keep the pilot from moving upwind while executing the figure 8s.

Avoid Crowding an Approach
If a pilot does S turns instead of figure 8s, they will end up too high and almost above their spot. This is called crowding an approach. It leaves the pilot too low to turn back downwind, but too high to glide in to the spot. Near the ground, it is not safe to do sharp turns, so crowding a spot will block the pilot for landing at their desired spot. Downwind turns when close to the ground should be avoided.

When the 8s are done correctly, the pattern is held until the desired height is achieved and then the pilot can begin heading in to the target landing spot. The desired height should include a slight amount of extra altitude for the glide in to the spot. Soft S turns or speed to fly can be used during the final to adjust out the extra height. The point here is that the pilot can adjust out extra altitude, but cannot extend a glide without the help of lift. More on this later.

Inner and Outer Circle
So, what is the target height and at what distance? I like to use a distance of a little more than 300 ft or 100 yards to do the figure 8s downwind of. I call this imaginary distance the outer circle. If you look at the wind direction and picture a 100 yard circle around the desired landing point, you can picture a line about this distance from the center of the desired landing point. You will do your figure 8s just downwind of this circle and try to cross it at the correct height. This will be somewhere between about 40 ft (for very light or no winds) and 80 ft (for winds around 10 mph). For moderate winds about 5 mph it will be about 50 ft.

Math will help you understand why these heights work. The following table will show you why these will work for entry level to intermediate gliders that get around an 8:1 best glide.

Distance in winds in a glider that gets 8:1 glide
Wind Speed	Ground Speed (where trim = 20 mph)	Starting Height	Gliding Distance	Extra Height/Travel to use up
0	20 (100% of ground-speed in 0 wind)	40	8 x 40 x 1 = 320	20/160 Ft
5	15 (75 % of ground-speed in 0 wind)	55	8 x 55 x .75 = 330	30/180 Ft
10	10 (50% of ground-speed in 0 wind)	80	8 x 80 x .50 = 320	20/80 Ft

This probably looks very confounding, but do not worry. These heights can be thought of more in a generalized sense. The point is to see that you need to be higher at the outer circle in stronger winds and lower in lighter winds. When you are going to make an approach, you will look at the wind speed and adjust your target height based on this. Once you start practicing approaches you will learn what heights will work at the practice height. In the below pictures, you can see that there are some trees at this site that the pilots can use to cross reference their height. The trees are about 60 ft high.

In moderate to stronger winds (5 – 12 mph), the figure 8 pattern is easier to do because the turns will be less than 180 degrees. In fact, the turns might be as little as 90 degrees in winds near 10 mph. This is because of the the effect of crabbing and the resultant direction in relation to the ground. So, with moderate to stronger winds, it is easier to execute the figure 8s closer to the target landing spot.

The below image depicts a Figure 8 Approach for a day with about 5 mph wind at Ed Levin Park. To have success in this approach, the pilot would need to be around tree-top level as he or she turns out of the figure 8 pattern into the outer circle / final approach area. In lighter winds or 0 wind, you would need to be just below tree-top level. In winds up around 10 MPH, it would be better to be 10 to 20 ft above the top of the corner tree as you cross the outer circle.

A Sample Figure 8 Approach

The Figure 8s should be done directly downwind of the Target landing spot. Imagine a pie slice directly downwind of the target spot and do the figure 8s in this. Make sure that there is always enough room to complete the turns without getting closer than about 40+ feet of the trees.

Do the Figure 8s in a zone downwind of the spot.
At Ed Levin, you need some imagination to de-reference the corner tree for the correct height.

The most important part of the approach is making the adjustments prior to turning onto final as you cross the Outer Circle. The target height is best to include a little extra height to adjust out via speed or some “S” turns during the final. It is crucial that the you don’t just do S turns instead of Figure 8s. If you do, you will move into the Outer Circle too high, we call this crowding your approach. This is because you will be too close to the spot and this severely limits your safer options for the final approach.

Once you break out of the figure 8 pattern, you then need to continuously monitor and adjust your glide. This means looking to see if you are crossing the outer circle at the correct altitude. If you turn toward the outer circle and realize after doing so that you are going to be higher than you want, add turn or two to adjust out on the way to the outer circle. After crossing the outer circle, you can then make final adjustments. All of these adjustments need to be made as high above the ground as possible. The last 25 – 30′ of altitude should have only minor turns (less than 20 – 30 degrees, sharper turns lose altitude and this is very dangerous near the ground).

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