Students applying for the CPL license must show their skills in handling a plane. That’s the reason why a check pilot will ask them to perform the following maneuvers: steep turns, chandelles and lazy 8.

Chandelles and lazy 8 look similar but the difference is that chandelles need to pitch up and bank while the lazy 8 need to bank first then pitch up.

Here are the steps I use to make those maneuvers on a cessna 172.

1. Chandelles

- notify position

- light pitch down for 95 kts maneuvering speed

- pitch up and speed will reduce

- full power

- bank 30 degrees

- apply rudder as necessary

- maintain 5 kts above stalling speed

- after reaching 90 degree turn reduce back pressure

- when about to reach 180 degree, recover the plane by pitching down, level the wings and reduce power

2. Lazy 8

- notify position

- rpm 2400

- light pitch down for 95 kts maneuvering speed

- bank 30 degrees

- apply rudder as necessary

- pitch up

- maintain 5 kts above stalling speed

- after reaching 90 degree turn, release back pressure

- after reaching 180 degree, pitch down to 95 kts maneuvering speed

- bank 30 degrees opposite direction

- apply rudder as necessary

- pitch up

- maintain 5 kts above stalling speed

- after reaching 90 degree, release back pressure

- after reaching 180 degrees recover the plane by leveling the wings, pitch down and reduce power

3. Steep turns.

- notify position

- rpm 2500

- bank 45 degrees

- apply rudder as necessary

- pitch up to maintain altitude

- keep the angle of the engines’s cowling and the horizon.

- after reaching 360 degree, recover the plane by leveling the wings and reduce power.