Using the E6-B Flight Computer

The E6-B was developed in the United States by Naval Lt. Philip Dalton in the late 1930s. The name comes from its original part number for the U.S Army Air Corps in World War II. The E6-B is a circular slide rule on the front side, or ‘computer’ side, and a wind triangle calculator on the ‘wind’ side.

ASA’s manual for the E6-B provides detailed instructions with pictures of each calculation that can be performed. The flight computer can be used to solve dozens of aviation math calculations. You need to be proficient with at least the calculations in the table below. You can check your answer by hovering your mouse over the question.

Watch this video first to learn about how to interpret the values on the circular slide scales.

Calculations you need to be proficient performing	Practice Problems	Resources
Time – Rate – Distance	Use your E6-B to solve these problems: How long will it take to travel 34 NM if flying at a groundspeed of 106 kts? How long will it take to travel 73 NM if flying at a groundspeed of 87 kts? How long will it take to travel 18 NM if flying at a groundspeed of 127 kts?	See pages 8-10 in ASA’s manual for the E6-B
Calculate Fuel Burn	Use your E6-B to solve these problems: How much fuel will be used to fly for 43 minutes if burning 5.6 GPH? How much fuel will be used to fly for 15 minutes if burning 8.3 GPH? How much fuel will be used to fly for 22 minutes if burning 6.4 GPH?
Calculate a wind correction angle (WCA)	Use your E6-B to solve these problems: Determine the WCA with a true course of 194°, a TAS of 107 kts, and winds aloft of 330° at 8 kts Determine the WCA with a true course of 027°, a TAS of 93 kts, and winds aloft of 290° at 14 kts Determine the WCA with a true course of 341°, a TAS of 124 kts, and winds aloft of 190° at 21 kts	To account for the movement of airmasses, you need to calculate a correction to your course that will eliminate wind drift. Your flight computer has a wind side that uses a wind triangle to determine this correction. See pages 28-32 in ASA’s manual for the E6-B
Calculate groundspeed	Use your E6-B to solve these problems: Determine the groundspeed with a true course of 194°, a TAS of 107 kts, and winds aloft of 330° at 8 kts Determine the groundspeed with a true course of 027°, a TAS of 93 kts, and winds aloft of 190° at 14 kts Determine the WCA with a true course of 341°, a TAS of 124 kts, and winds aloft of 190° at 21 kts
Calculate Density Altitude, TAS from IAS, or IAS from TAS	Use your E6-B to solve these problems: What is the density altitude if the pressure altitude is 4100 ft and the outside air temperature (OAT) is 14° C? What is the density altitude if the pressure altitude is 1300 ft and the outside air temperature (OAT) is 28° C? What is the true airspeed (TAS) if the indicated airspeed (IAS) is 87 kts, the pressure altitude is 4500 ft and the outside air temperature (OAT) is 18° C? What is the indicated airspeed (IAS) if the true airspeed 105 kts, the pressure altitude is 7000 ft and the outside air temperature (OAT) is 8° C?	See pages 18 & 19 in ASA’s manual for the E6-B