The Figure 8 approach is one of the most useful landing patterns in paragliding. It allows the pilot to remain safely downwind of the landing target while continuously adjusting altitude for wind, lift, sink, and glide performance.
Unlike approaches that require a fixed sequence of turns, the Figure 8 pattern can be held as long as needed. The pilot remains in a controlled zone downwind of the target until reaching the proper height to begin the final approach.
One of the biggest advantages of this pattern is that it greatly reduces the need for direct downwind flying close to the ground. Low-altitude downwind flight increases ground speed and reduces the time available to correct mistakes.
Key Principle: A Figure 8 approach is defined by your path over the ground, not by the heading of the glider.
Why Use a Figure 8 or (Wide S Turn – in lighter winds) Approach?
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- It keeps the pilot downwind of the landing area.
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- It works in light, moderate, and stronger wind conditions.
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- It can be held indefinitely if lift is encountered.
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- It can be exited quickly if sink is encountered.
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- It allows the pilot to manage altitude before committing to final.
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- It avoids unnecessary low-altitude downwind flight.
How the Pattern Works
The goal is to remain downwind of the landing target while making reversing turns that keep you from drifting toward the spot too early. Each pass between the turns should angle slightly downwind over the ground. This is what allows the next reversing turn to happen without the pilot creeping toward the landing area.
In light or no wind, the loops at the end of the Figure 8 may require turns of more than 180 degrees. In stronger winds, crabbing changes the ground track, so the turns may be much smaller—sometimes closer to 90 degrees.
Rather than thinking about exact turn angles, focus on the shape of the pattern over the ground. The pattern should stay behind the landing target until you intentionally leave it for the final approach.
The below section shows the Figure 8 approach, differences between, moderate and higher winds. For very light winds, please look below at the Wide S turn approach pattern.
Instructor Tip: In lighter winds, use a wider pattern farther back from the spot. In stronger winds, crabbing allows a narrower pattern closer to the spot.
Avoid Crowding the Approach
The most common problem when learning Figure 8 approaches is creeping forward toward the landing target. This usually happens when the pilot is doing shallow S-turns instead of true Figure 8s.
A correctly flown Figure 8 pattern can be held indefinitely at the planned distance downwind of the target. Think of the pattern as staying inside a rectangular box drawn on the ground behind the landing area.
Safety Warning: If S-turns cause you to arrive over the target too high, your safe options are limited. Turning downwind below about 30 feet AGL is not safe because there may not be enough altitude to turn back into the wind.
It is usually better to arrive at the Outer Circle with a small amount of extra altitude. Extra height can be adjusted out with soft S-turns or speed control. If you arrive too low, there may be no safe way to regain the altitude needed to reach the spot.
Wide S-Turn Variation for Light Wind
When the wind is very light—roughly less than 5 mph—a wide S-turn approach can be an effective variation. The pilot starts farther back and uses wide, gentle turns to manage altitude before entering the final approach.
If lift is encountered, the wide S-turn pattern can become a full Figure 8. If sink is encountered, the pilot can reduce the amount of turning and continue toward the spot.
Sampling Your Glide on the Way In
As you leave the Figure 8 or wide S-turn pattern and head toward the landing target, begin sampling your glide. Sampling means checking where your current flight path will take you before you commit to the final approach.
To sample your glide, fly straight toward the spot as you cross the Outer Circle. Look for the point on the ground that appears neither to rise nor sink in your visual field. This is the point of Zero Motion, and it gives you a sense of where your current glide is taking you.
If you have no extra height, fly directly toward the spot at an efficient speed. If you have extra height, begin adjusting early with soft turns or appropriate speed control.
If You Are High
If you are a little high as you cross the Outer Circle, use gentle S-turns or speed control to reduce glide. If you are much too high, turn early and remain outside the final approach area rather than forcing a correction close to the ground.
If You Hit Lift or a Thermal
If you hit lift while crossing the Outer Circle, wait until the glider is back overhead, then turn to keep yourself behind the target and re-enter a Figure 8 style loop. Above about 50 feet, you may be able to angle slightly downwind briefly to keep yourself from drifting into the landing area too high.
If You Are Low or Hit Sink
If you are low or encounter sink while sampling, keep flying directly toward the spot at trim speed or near trim speed. In smooth air, trim is generally appropriate. In textured or bumpy air, keep a small amount of brake pressure on while maintaining energy in the wing.
The Inner and Outer Circle Concept
A useful way to plan the approach is to imagine an Outer Circle about 100 yards, or slightly more than 300 feet, from the desired landing point. The Figure 8 pattern is flown just downwind of this imaginary circle. The goal is to cross the Outer Circle at a height that gives you a little extra glide to reach the spot safely.
In very light or no wind, that height may be about 40 feet. In approximately 5 mph wind, it may be around 55 feet. In 10 mph wind, it may be closer to 80 feet. These are guidelines, not exact numbers. The goal is to learn how the approach feels and adjust for conditions.
At Ed Levin Park, many approaches cross near the ditch. The 60-foot tree near the corner of the Eucalyptus trees can be used as a visual reference for height.
Wind Speed and Starting Height
The following table shows why stronger winds require a higher starting height at the Outer Circle. It assumes an entry-level to intermediate glider with about an 8:1 glide ratio at roughly 20 mph trim speed.
| Wind Speed | Ground Speed | Approximate Height at Outer Circle | Approximate Glide Distance |
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| 0 mph | 20 mph / 100% speed | 40 ft | 8 × 40 × 1 = 320 ft |
| 5 mph | 15 mph / 75% speed | 55 ft | 8 × 55 × .75 = 330 ft |
| 10 mph | 10 mph / 50% speed | 80 ft | 8 × 80 × .50 = 320 ft |
Practical Rule: The stronger the headwind, the higher you should be when crossing the Outer Circle. The lighter the wind, the lower you can be.
Higher Wind Example
In moderate to stronger winds, the Figure 8 pattern is often easier to maintain. With a 12 mph wind, for example, the glider may be pointed about 45 degrees into the wind during the crosswind portions of the pattern. Because of crabbing, the pilot may only need to turn about 90 degrees to reverse direction at the end of each loop.
The lower ground speed also keeps the loops from drifting far upwind during the turn. This is why Figure 8s can usually be flown closer to the landing target in moderate to stronger winds.
Light Wind Example
In no wind or very light wind, ground speed is higher and there is little or no crabbing. The turns at the end of each Figure 8 loop become larger and may need to exceed 180 degrees. The pattern should therefore be flown wider and farther back from the landing target.
This prevents the pilot from feeling cramped and helps avoid crowding the approach before reaching the correct height for final.
In this example, the pilot should be close to tree-top level when leaving the Figure 8 pattern and entering the Outer Circle/final approach area. In lighter winds, the pilot may be slightly below tree-top height. In winds closer to 10 mph, it may be better to cross the Outer Circle 10–20 feet above the top of the reference tree.
The Figure 8s should be flown directly downwind of the target landing spot. Imagine a pie slice extending downwind from the target and keep the Figure 8s within that area. Always leave enough room to complete the turns safely and avoid getting too close to trees or other obstacles.
A Sample Figure 8 Approach
Fly the Figure 8s in a Zone Downwind of the Spot
At Ed Levin, it helps to use visual references while also learning not to focus too much on any single tree or object. The goal is to understand your height, distance, and glide relative to the landing target.
The most important part of the approach is making adjustments before turning onto final and crossing the Outer Circle. Anticipate the height you will lose during the final turn and glide toward the circle.
Do not allow the Figure 8s to become shallow S-turns. If you drift toward the Outer Circle too early, you may arrive too high and too close to the target. That severely limits your safer options for the final approach.
Instructor Tip: Learn to cross the Outer Circle with a little extra height. You can adjust out extra altitude, but you cannot create more altitude if you are low.
Once you leave the Figure 8 pattern, continuously monitor your glide. If you turn toward the Outer Circle and realize you will still be too high, add a turn or two early. After crossing the Outer Circle, only small corrections should be needed.
The last 25–30 feet of altitude should involve only minor turns. Avoid sharp turns close to the ground because they create higher descent rates and leave little margin for correction.
Fine-Tuning on Final
Moderate to Stronger Wind
In winds of about 5 mph or more, speed control can help reduce excess glide above about 25 feet. If it looks like you may land past the spot, you can fly more slowly into the headwind to reduce your glide.
Once you are around 25 feet AGL, do not fly slower than hands just above the shoulders. Landing requires energy in the glider, and coming in too slow can be dangerous.
Very Light Wind
In very light wind, speed control will not reduce glide as much. Instead, you may need to add soft S-turns soon after crossing the Outer Circle. Around 40 feet AGL, somewhat sharper turns may still be possible, within reason. As you approach about 25 feet AGL, only soft turns should be used.
Safety Reminder: Flying slightly past the spot and landing safely is far better than forcing a sharp, low-altitude correction and hitting the ground hard.
Eyes on the Horizon for Better Flare Timing
During final approach, your primary visual focus should be forward toward the horizon, not straight down at the ground. Looking ahead improves flare timing and reduces the exaggerated sense of ground speed that pilots often feel when they stare down.
You still need to scan the landing area for hazards such as rocks, holes, uneven ground, or vegetation that could catch your feet. However, those should be quick scans. Your main focus should remain forward and level with the horizon.
There is no single perfect distance to look ahead. For many pilots, something around 50 yards ahead may work, but the important habit is to look forward rather than straight down.
Landing Approach Video Examples
The video below shows five landing approaches. One is a Figure 8 approach, and several Downwind-Base-Final approaches use a Figure 8 near the end to scrub off altitude before final.
Key Points to Remember
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- Stay downwind of the landing target until you are ready to begin final.
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- Fly the Figure 8 based on ground track, not glider heading.
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- Do not let the pattern turn into shallow S-turns that crowd the landing area.
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- Cross the Outer Circle with a small amount of extra height.
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- Make altitude corrections early, not close to the ground.
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- Avoid sharp turns below about 25–30 feet AGL.
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- Look toward the horizon during final approach to improve flare timing.
Final Thought: A successful Figure 8 approach is not about making perfect turns. It is about staying in the correct area, reaching the right height, and making safe adjustments before committing to final.
