Jet Fighter School II

More Training for Computer Fighter Pilots
by Richard G. Sheffield

The Cuban Eight

The Cuban eight is one of the aerobatic standards. Pilots in biplanes and F-18s alike love to fly Cuban eights in demonstrations. When properly performed, this maneuver traces out a figure eight on its side. As such, it is sometimes referred to as a horizontal eight, but the horizontal eight is a different maneuver to be covered later. The Cuban eight consists of two modified Immelmanns performed together.

• Fly straight and level at approximately 500 knots. Make a mental note of your altitude. (1)
• Pull back on the stick as you would if you were performing a loop or an Immelmann. (2)
• Continue the top of the loop on into an inverted dive. (3)
• As the dive gets steeper, begin to roll. (4)
• Continue to roll until you're in a level-winged 45-degree dive. Pull out of the dive at your entry altitude. (5)
• Repeat the maneuver in the opposite direction. (6)

Figure 3-1. Cuban Eight

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