Description
The Inverted Pirouetting Figure 8 may be performed at any pirouette rate in either direction. The model should prescribe a symmetrical figure 8 with a constant rate of rotation. The height of the manoeuvre is left to the pilot’s discretion but 1 to 1.5 metres would be ideal to give the judges an excellent perception of the overall manoeuvre.

Preparation
This should begin with checking your inverted hovering skills. It is essential to be able to hover your model inverted in all orientations. The next step is to begin pirouetting carefully with the model in a stationary hover. Practice these inverted pirouettes until you are able to hold position accurately at very slow pirouette rates. This exercise will check your ability to control the model at all points of the pirouette and is particularly challenging if a wind is blowing. Practice of these inverted pirouettes directly in front of you also gives you the best opportunity to develop good cyclic control timing that is necessary to move the model around.

Before attempting the full manoeuvre I would suggest practice of inverted Figure 8 flying at a slow steady speed, both forward and backwards. If you have not flown any Figure 8’s before this is important practice to give an insight into the difficulties you will face attempting the full manoeuvre. As the Figure 8 consists of two circles it is sensible to practice these individually. It is also important to note that these circles when joined to produce the Figure 8 are flown in opposite directions. From this it is clear that you should practice these two circles in the direction you intend to fly them, individually at first in front of you, but then transfer them to final positions before attempting the ‘crossover’ to form the full Figure 8.

Possible Problems
The main problem usually faced with this manoeuvre is keeping the model moving consistently around the Figure 8. In order to maintain movement of a pirouetting model in the desired direction well-timed cyclic inputs are necessary. This is further complicated if a wind is present. Careful co-ordination of elevator and aileron control is necessary to maintain steady progress throughout the Figure 8.

The pirouette rate throughout the manoeuvre should be consistent and slow enough to allow the necessary cyclic controls to be timed correctly. If too high a pirouette rate is used difficulty will be experienced to time these cyclic inputs correctly and accuracy will suffer.