The E6B flight computer, often called the "whiz wheel," remains a cornerstone of pilot training for calculating critical flight data like speed, fuel, and wind correction. Mastering it requires consistent practice with exercises that cover both its calculator and wind sides. Core E6B Exercise Categories
Exercises typically focus on four main areas of flight planning and management:
Mastering the E6B flight computer, affectionately known as the "Whiz Wheel," is a rite of passage for any pilot. This circular slide rule has remained a cockpit staple for over 80 years because it doesn't require batteries and can solve complex navigation problems in seconds.
The device is split into two primary parts: the Calculator Side for math like fuel burn and time, and the Wind Side for determining groundspeed and wind correction. Practice Exercise 1: Time, Speed, and Distance The most common use of the calculator side is solving the (Distance = Rate x Time) equation.
Problem: How much time will it take to fly 120 Nautical Miles (NM) at a groundspeed of 100 knots?
Step 1: Rotate the inner scale until the "60" Index (the big black triangle) is opposite your groundspeed (100) on the outer scale. Step 2: Locate your distance (120) on the outer scale. Step 3: Read the corresponding time on the inner scale. Answer: 72 minutes (or 1 hour and 12 minutes). Practice Exercise 2: Wind Correction and Groundspeed
The wind side is used to find your Wind Correction Angle (WCA) and Groundspeed (GS) by plotting a "wind dot".
Problem: Find the Groundspeed and Heading for a flight with: True Course (TC): 130∘130 raised to the composed with power Winds: From 250∘250 raised to the composed with power at 15 knots True Airspeed (TAS): 112 knots Procedure: Set Wind: Rotate the transparent disk to 250∘250 raised to the composed with power under the True Index.
Mark Velocity: Mark a dot 15 units up from the center "grommet". Set Course: Rotate the disk so 130∘130 raised to the composed with power is under the True Index.
Adjust for Airspeed: Slide the background grid until your wind dot is on the 112-knot arc.
Read Results: Your Groundspeed is under the grommet (approx. 119 knots) and your WCA is shown by how many degrees left or right the dot is from the centerline. Practice Exercise 3: Fuel Consumption
Calculating fuel is critical for legal requirements and safety.
Mastering the E6B flight computer, often affectionately called the "whiz wheel," is a rite of passage for every pilot. While modern glass cockpits and electronic apps provide instant data, the manual E6B remains a critical backup and a required skill for the FAA private pilot knowledge test.
The following exercises are designed to help you build muscle memory for the most common aviation calculations. 1. Time, Speed, and Distance Exercises e6b flight computer exercises
The calculator side of the E6B operates on a 60:1 ratio, using the "60" rate arrow (a large black triangle on the inner scale) to represent speed in units per hour. Problem A: Calculating Time En Route (ETE)
Scenario: You are flying at a groundspeed of 120 knots to a waypoint 180 nautical miles (NM) away. Steps:
Rotate the inner wheel to align the "60" rate arrow under "12" (representing 120 knots) on the outer scale. Find "18" (representing 180 NM) on the outer scale. Read the corresponding time on the inner scale. Answer: 90 minutes (or 1 hour 30 minutes). Problem B: Calculating Distance Flown Scenario: You have been flying at 95 knots for 40 minutes. Steps: Set the "60" rate arrow to "95" on the outer scale. Find "40" on the inner scale (time).
Read the value directly above it on the outer scale (distance). Answer: 63.3 NM. 2. Wind Correction & Groundspeed Exercises
The E6B flight computer, often called the "whiz wheel," is a manual circular slide rule used by pilots for flight planning and navigation. It consists of a Calculator Side for math problems and a Wind Side for vectoring. 🧭 Calculator Side Exercises
Use the circular scales. The outer scale (A) is for distance/fuel/speed. The inner scale (B) is for time. 1. Time, Speed, and Distance
Exercise A: You are flying at 120 knots. How long will it take to travel 45 nautical miles?
Step: Set the speed index (black triangle) to 12. Look at 45 on the outer scale. Answer: 22.5 minutes.
Exercise B: You travel 18 nautical miles in 9 minutes. What is your groundspeed?
Step: Align 18 (outer) over 9 (inner). Look at the speed index. Answer: 120 knots. 2. Fuel Consumption
Exercise A: Your engine burns 8.5 gallons per hour (GPH). How much fuel is used in 2 hours and 20 minutes?
Step: Set speed index to 8.5. Look at 140 minutes (2:20) on the inner scale. Answer: 19.8 gallons.
Exercise B: You have 35 gallons of usable fuel. Your burn rate is 11 GPH. How much endurance (time) do you have? Step: Set speed index to 11. Look at 35 on the outer scale. Answer: 3 hours and 11 minutes (191 mins). Wind Side Exercises The E6B flight computer, often called the "whiz
Use the sliding grid and the rotating azimuth to find your Wind Correction Angle (WCA) and Groundspeed (GS). 3. Wind Correction & Groundspeed Scenario: True Course (TC): 090° True Airspeed (TAS): 110 knots Wind: 180° at 20 knots Steps: Rotate the azimuth to wind direction (180°).
Slide the grommet (center hole) over a heavy line (e.g., 100). Mark a "wind dot" 20 units up from the grommet (at 120). Rotate azimuth to your course (090°).
Slide the grid until the wind dot is on your TAS line (110). Results: Groundspeed: Look under the center grommet. (~108 knots)
Wind Correction Angle: Note the dot's offset from the center line. (10° Right) True Heading (TH): TC + WCA = 100° 🌡️ Conversions & Altitudes
Small windows and scales allow for environmental corrections. 4. True Airspeed (TAS)
Exercise: You are at 8,500 ft Pressure Altitude. Outside Air Temperature (OAT) is +10°C. Indicated Airspeed (IAS) is 105 knots.
Step: In the "Pressure Alt" window, align 8.5 with +10°C. Look at 105 on the inner scale; read TAS on the outer scale. Answer: ~122 knots TAS. 5. Unit Conversions Exercise: Convert 50 US Gallons to Liters.
Step: Find the "US GAL" and "LITERS" arrows on the outer scale. Align "50" under the US GAL arrow. Answer: ~189 Liters. 💡 Practice Tips
Check the Units: Ensure you aren't confusing Gallons with Pounds or Nautical Miles with Statute Miles.
Sanity Check: If you have a headwind, your Groundspeed must be lower than your Airspeed. If it's higher, you likely plotted the wind backwards.
Pencil Matters: Use a fine-point pencil or a specialized E6B pen for the wind side to keep marks precise.
. On the physical tool, you align the "60" pointer (representing 1 hour) on the inner scale with your groundspeed on the outer scale. Exercise A: If your groundspeed is , how far will you travel in Exercise B: You need to fly . At a speed of , how long will it take? 2. Fuel Consumption
This uses the same scales as distance but replaces "distance" with "gallons" and "speed" with "gallons per hour (GPH)." Exercise C: Your engine burns . How much fuel is used during a flight of Exercise D: You have of usable fuel. If you burn , what is your maximum endurance in minutes? 3. Visualizing the Wind Triangle Exercise 5: Descent Planning (Top of Descent) The
The most complex part of the E6B is the "wind side." You must determine your Wind Correction Angle (WCA) to find your Heading, and calculate your Groundspeed based on headwind or tailwind components.
The following graph visualizes a typical wind correction scenario: True Course (TC): 090∘090 raised to the composed with power (Due East) True Airspeed (TAS): Wind: 045∘045 raised to the composed with power (A quartering headwind from the northeast) Answer Key A (Distance) B (Time) C (Fuel) D (Endurance) Wind (GS) Groundspeed: -8∘negative 8 raised to the composed with power 082∘082 raised to the composed with power
The paper is structured with an Exercise Section followed by a Detailed Solutions Section explaining the knob movements and slide rule operations.
The Scenario: You are at 9,000 feet. Pattern altitude is 1,000 feet (You need to lose 8,000 feet). You want a 500 ft/min descent at 140 knots groundspeed. How far out do you start down?
The Exercise:
Pro Tip: Add 5-10 NM to slow down before entering the pattern.
Before touching the wind side of the E6B, you must master the "whiz wheel" side. The formula is simple: Distance = Speed × Time. But the E6B uses a slide rule, not a calculator.
Scenario: You are 50 NM into a 200 NM leg. You realize you are 8 NM left of course. Calculate the correction heading to hit the destination.
Use the E6B off-course correction formula (or slide rule method): Correction angle = (Distance off course / Distance flown) × 60
Here: (8/50) × 60 = 9.6° correction to the right.
Use the circular slide rule side of your E6B. Remember: The "60" index is your hour/minute reference point.
Speed/Distance Problems: 6. You have flown 85 nautical miles in 42 minutes. What is your Ground Speed in knots? 7. At a Ground Speed of 135 knots, how long will it take to fly 320 nautical miles? (Answer in hours and minutes). 8. If your Ground Speed is 95 knots, how far will you travel in 1 hour and 15 minutes?
Fuel Consumption Problems: 9. Your aircraft burns 9.5 gallons per hour. How much fuel will you burn in 2 hours and 30 minutes? 10. You have 35 gallons of useable fuel. If your aircraft burns 12 gallons per hour, what is your total flight time before the tanks are empty? (Assume no reserve for this calculation). 11. You have flown for 45 minutes and burned 7.5 gallons. What is your fuel burn rate in Gallons Per Hour (GPH)?
Scenario: Your aircraft burns 8 gallons per hour (GPH). How much fuel will you burn in 2 hours and 30 minutes?