How to fly the maneuver

A rectangular course is the entry-level ground reference maneuver — you fly a four-sided pattern around a ground feature at 600–1,000 ft AGL, varying bank to compensate for wind drift so the ground track stays a clean rectangle. It's also the maneuver every traffic pattern is built on; the AFH calls it "the foundation for the traffic pattern" for that reason.

The point isn't the rectangle. The point is dividing attention between airplane control (altitude, airspeed, coordination) and ground reference (track, drift correction). The DPE is watching how you scan, not just how the path looks from above.

Setup

1. Pick a clearly bounded rectangular field — a section of farmland with straight roads, or a small airport boundary works well. Sides should be roughly equal.
2. Note the wind direction before you commit. Look at smoke, water, flag, or the heading where you currently have a crab established.
3. Climb or descend to 600–1,000 ft AGL (V.B.S3 anchors altitude to the value you set here).
4. Set the manufacturer's recommended airspeed for ground reference maneuvers — typically cruise or slightly below, well under VA.
5. Clear the area with a 90° clearing turn each direction. Stay alert for traffic the whole maneuver; you'll be heads-down outside the cockpit more than usual.

Entry

Enter on the downwind side of the field at a 45° angle to the corner, at the chosen 600–1,000 ft offset from the boundary. You should roll wings-level parallel to the long downwind boundary as you reach the offset distance.

Some examiners prefer entry perpendicular to one of the sides instead — either works; commit to one and brief it before you start.

The four legs

Bank angle is not constant — it varies continuously with groundspeed. Memorize the corner sequence:

From → To leg	Groundspeed at turn	Bank
Downwind → base	Highest (tailwind)	Steepest
Base → upwind	Medium	Medium
Upwind → crosswind	Lowest (headwind)	Shallowest
Crosswind → downwind	Medium	Medium

On the straight legs, set a crab angle as needed:

• Downwind / upwind legs: wind is roughly parallel to the heading — minimal crab.
• Crosswind legs: wind is perpendicular — crab into the wind to hold the offset distance from the boundary.

The visual cue is the boundary itself. If you see it sliding closer, the wind is pushing you in; crab more. If it slides away, crab less.

Roll-out

At each corner, roll out wings-level when you're parallel to the next boundary at the chosen offset. Don't anticipate by rolling out early; don't lag and overshoot the next leg.

Common pitfall: pure ground watching. Students lock eyes on the field and the altimeter unwinds 100+ ft before they notice. Instruments-glance every 2–3 seconds, then back outside.