Verify before flight. Check the POH/AFM for aircraft-specific limits and performance.
Maneuvers & Turns
Pivotal Altitude Calculator
Calculate pivotal altitude for eights on pylons from groundspeed using the common GS squared divided by 11.3 formula.
kt
Pivotal altitude—
Groundspeed—
Formula—
ADVERTISEMENT
Ad space
100 knots versus 90 knots
At 100 kt groundspeed, 100² / 11.3 ≈ 885 ft AGL. At 90 kt the estimate falls to about 717 ft AGL.
Because speed is squared, a changing groundspeed changes pivotal altitude substantially. This training relationship does not establish terrain clearance or replace maneuver instruction.
Formula and method
Pivotal altitude (ft AGL) ≈ groundspeed² ÷ 11.3 for the common knots-and-feet training rule.