The next leg is where the airplane turns from a base leg  position to the upwind leg. Ideally, the wind is directly on  A principle ground reference maneuver is the rectangular  course.  [Figure 6-4]  The rectangular course is a training  maneuver in which the airplane maintains an equal distance  from all sides of the selected rectangular references. The  maneuver is accomplished to replicate the airport traffic  pattern that an airplane typically maneuvers while landing.  While performing the rectangular course maneuver, the pilot  should maintain a constant altitude, airspeed, and distance  from the ground references. The maneuver assists the pilot  in practicing the following: The entry into the maneuver should be accomplished  downwind. This places the wind on the tail of the airplane  and results in an increased groundspeed. There should be no  wind correction angle if the wind is directly on the tail of  the airplane; however, a real-world situation results in some  drift correction. The turn from the downwind leg onto the  base leg is entered with a relatively steep bank angle. The  pilot should roll the airplane into a steep bank with rapid, but  not excessive, coordinated aileron and rudder pressures. As  the airplane turns onto the following base leg, the tailwind  lessens and becomes a crosswind; the bank angle is reduced  gradually with coordinated aileron and rudder pressures. The  pilot should be prepared for the lateral drift and compensate  by turning more than 90° angling toward the inside of the  rectangular course. When proficiency has been demonstrated by flying directly  over the ground reference line, the pilot should then practice  flying a straight parallel path that is offset from the ground  reference. The offset parallel path should not be more than  three-fourths of a mile from the reference line. The maneuver  should be flown offset from the ground references with the  pilot angling the airplane’s longitudinal axis into the wind  sufficiently to cancel the effect of drift while maintaining a  parallel track. First, a square, rectangular field, or an area with suitable  ground references on all four sides, as previously mentioned  should be selected consistent with safe practices. The  airplane should be flown parallel to and at an equal distance  between one-half to three-fourths of a mile away from  the field boundaries or selected ground references. The  flightpath should be positioned outside the field boundaries  or selected ground references so that the references may be  easily observed from either pilot seat. It is not practicable  to fly directly above the field boundaries or selected  ground references. The pilot should avoid flying close to  the references, as this will require the pilot to turn using  very steep bank angles, thereby increasing aerodynamic  load factor and the airplane’s stall speed, especially in the  downwind to crosswind turn. The pilot should first be introduced to ground reference  maneuvers by correcting for the effects of a crosswind over a  straight-line ground reference, such as road or railroad tracks.  If a straight road or railroad track is unavailable, the pilot will  choose multiple references (three minimum) which, when  an imaginary visual reference line is extended, represents  a straight line. The reference should be suitably long so the  pilot has sufficient time to understand the concepts of wind  correction and practice the maneuver. Initially, the maneuver  should be flown directly over the ground reference with the  pilot angling the airplane’s longitudinal axis into the wind  sufficiently such as to cancel the effect of drift. The pilot  should scan between far ahead and close to the airplane to  practice tracking multiple references. Ground reference maneuvers should always be entered from  a downwind position. This allows the pilot to establish the  steepest bank angle required to maintain a constant radius  ground track. If the bank is too steep, the pilot should  immediately exit the maneuver and re-establish a lateral  position that is further from the ground reference. The pilot  should avoid bank angles in excess of 45°due to the increased  stalling speed. headed downwind, the turn bank angle must be steepest;  where groundspeed is the slowest, such as when the airplane  is headed upwind, the turn bank angle must be shallow. It is  necessary to increase or decrease the angle of bank, which  increases or decreases the rate of turn, to achieve the desired  constant radius track over the ground.  Tracking Over and Parallel to a Straight Line Rectangular Course 6-6 • Maintaining a specific relationship between the  airplane and the ground. • Dividing attention between the flightpath, ground- based references, manipulating the flight controls,  and scanning for outside hazards and instrument  indications. • Adjusting the bank angle during turns to correct for  groundspeed changes in order to maintain constant  radius turns.  • Rolling out from a turn with the required wind  correction angle to compensate for any drift cause by  the wind. • Establishing and correcting the wind correction angle  in order to maintain the track over the ground. • Preparing the pilot for the airport traffic pattern and  subsequent landing pattern practice.