Thanks. I think initial overbank could be the problem.
"Barry C" wrote in message
31...
[posted and mailed]

"Dick" wrote in news:P3zfi.818$RZ1.511@trnddc05:

Let's forget anything I said about the Unusual Attitudes Course and
Modified Wing Overs, etc and just address doing a smooth Lazy 8 for my
wife's benefit.

My procedure for the Lazy 8: entry at 15/15* P&B, then up to 30/30*
P&B
at 90* to entry and down to 5-10 mph over stall using proper rudder
control and centered ball.

Unfortunately after I look left over the wing to line up with the
entry
point and initiate first pitch/bank, I'm then at the 90* point and
still too fast with apex not yet reached.....I'm trying to describe
the apex being at maybe 135 degrees and too tight (ie: close) on the
initial zero degree line...

Where am I going wrong?

Here's what I do (and how I'd teach it):

Let's assume that the maneuver will be done to the right.

After the object is off the right wing and you are below Va, there are
four spots you need to pay attention to:

a) 45 degrees off the object
b) 90 degrees (i.e., when the object is in front of you)
c) 135 degrees
d) 180 degrees

At forty-five degrees you are at maximum pitch up and want to have ~15
degrees of bank. So, start the maneuver at, say, 5 degrees of bank;
pitch up so you gain altitude (I usually gain 2-300 feet in the
maneuver!)

Between the 45 and 90 degree point, you are increasing the bank to 30
degrees. So, by the time you are at the 90 degree point, you've hit the
30 degrees and now you will slice the nose through the horizon.

At the 135 degree point you are at maximum pitch down. At this point,
you want to have started decreasing the bank and make sure that you
don't go past the altitude you started at.

The objective is that at the 180 degree point, you have the object off
your left wing (+/- 10 degrees) and your altitude is no more than 100
feet off from where you started.

As was previously said, it's a smooth maneuver. All too often students
will bank right into 15 degrees instead of doing it gradually.

I'm not sure what type of plane you're flying to offer any more
suggestions.

Hope that helps.

Barry
CP-ASEL-IA, AGI, CFI-candidate, FAASTeam Lead Rep.