E6B Flight Computer: the Pilot's Best Friend 

Back when I was flying, we used to refer to the E6B as a “prayer wheel.”

I learned how to use one of these during my initial flight training. It gave me nothing but respect for the pilots who used them to calculate their flight plans, and navigation information. When compared to modern technology and software the E6B is rather outdated, but it is still pretty fun to break it out every so often.

My Grandfather died in 2015, but he had some experience with the "Circular Flight Confuse-rs". He got called up by the US army in 1943, and not wanting to be in the infantry, volunteered for the army air corps. He couldn't qualify as a pilot and so they trained him to be a navigator. Through a series of adventures - such as supplying booze for the officers who were stationed in a Texas dry county - he managed to avoid being deployed overseas. Amusingly one of the things that saved him was that the B-29 had its own electromechanical navigation computer. So when the war in Europe ended, they transferred him to B-29 training, which took long enough that the war ended just before he finished that course.

I still keep a Whiz Wheel in my flight bag and use it to stay in practice. While even entry level general aviation planes glass cockpits and tablet based apps becoming the norm, there is still the satisfaction of plotting your flight with an E6B. It requires no batteries, does not crash (unless you fly the plane into the ground), does not need updates, and no annual subscription fees.

"Speed or gallons per hour" is a very retroencabulatory configuration of words, but then it makes sense once you think about it. I recommend Chris Staecker's video about this thing, especially if anyone is still a bit confused!

The huge advantage of the Wonder Wheel is that the human mind is more suited to analog information than to digital. As you work the wheel, the mind adjusts perception to match -- in other words, you are following the moves of the markings that are important to you, so you understand the results in relation to what you were thinking. Looking at a digital readout, you have to correlate the result to what you were actually doing. I've tried electronic calculators specifically designed for aviation, and keep going back to the E6B.

Today's episode is hosted by Gilles MC, judging by that intro.

Ppl should remember this is how life was before computer power! Ppl used slide rules every day bc calculators didn't exist. It's complex bc it's cramming a lot of functions into a portable form factor. But during instruction, a giant sized version was used (in ground school!)

Bravo! What a great presentation, about a classic device! I’m an engineer, 70 years old, but I’ve never been trained on aerial navigation methods. I can fix my position on a boat with a chart and 2 landmarks, but that’s about it. With your presentation, and an E6B in hand, I feel like I might be able to comprehend the concepts. Kudos on your script, your crisp, precise delivery, the quality of your photography, and of your supplementary graphics! That sentence was a mouthful, I’m aware, but I felt the need to tick of the entire list of things you did right. I used a (straight, 12”) slide rule in high school, before the advent of electronic calculators. Got my first one of those in my freshman year of college. I still have my Pickett 12” aluminum rule. I love your clip of Mr. Spock using the E6B. I would point out, however, the existence of the Greek Antitherika (sp?) mechanism, as an example of an ancient quite complicated gear-and-dial mechanism.

Ah, ha! So THAT is what the pilot was using as we flew toward Milwaukee. I kept the plane level and headed in the right direction, while the pilot did calculations with one of these strapped to his thigh. Since then, I often wondered what it was called. Now, thanks to this, I know. BTW: It works! Because when we broke out of the clouds at about 800 feet, there was the runway of Mitchell Field dead ahead. PS: This was way back before such things as vertical radar, etc.

Wow this is crazy. I was just looking up circular slide rules today. I was talking to my coworker about a small vintage book I saw on the weekend on how to use a circular slide rule. It had some really cool 50s graphics. Then I ended up looking up slide rules to see if I could find the book or the particular slide rule it was talking about. then you post this video, how fortuitous.

I still have mine from when I had a PPL. A useful bit of kit but it blows your mind, especially if you have to use it mid flight.

Science communicator Scott Manley decided to use the E6B as his "calculator" during his written exam for his pilot's license.

BEST INTRO EVER you could possibly get Walken to cameo. Like, there's a chance if you write it out and script it and send it with an ask, he might say yes.

One of the features of the E6B you overlooked is the grommet just above the toggle that locks the azimuth wheel. It’s used to attack a lanyard to prevent dropping it to the floor of the cockpit.

Amazing how much I learn from Canadians, not just your channel about my own history. Thank you and the sensible people in Canada and I suppose the world

Way too fast for me to learn it, but very interesting. No wonder good nocturnal navigators were treated like magicians during WW2.

Please never stop doing your unique intros on each new video, everyone loves it. That is the type of thing that makes you stand out from the crowd of other channels, makes yours more unique, adds that human element to it. It adds that "blooper reel" feel to it. I like how your intros leaves people excited and waiting for another video to release so they can see what the next intro blooper will be, that is exactly the way more channels need to understand is how you properly retain viewers, build a community, establish returning views for each subsequent upload. It snags them and they end up watching long enough to realize how great your content is, excellent quality, very interesting information about history, etc. Thank you very much for your hard work! I appreciate you doing it!

An electronic device looks much easier. You can just key in the speeds and wind vectors and get the course correction and ground speed immediately. BUT... It is also easy to make mistakes like keying in 210 for a direction when you fly 120... The analog flight computer shows you what is going on. It is easier to spot mistakes. An airliner nearly crashed because the First Officer made a mistake entering the total weight. The very heavy aircraft attempted to take off with too low a power setting. Would the same have happened if there was a rotary dial marked: very light / light / normal / heavy / very heavy?

It is the most intimidating thing in your student pilot flight bag, and your best friend by the time you get your ticket. The wind drift window is still how I visualize the wind triangle in my mind in flight. It was a great foundational experience, and I have never flown without it in my kit in 40 years.

While I only followed some of it on a first viewing, as always this was a fascinating and informative video. The little tidbit about StarTrek made me chuckle sensibly!

Wow! So much functionality in such a small and simple thing!

You brought back memories, got my private license 3/1/1970. My computer was an Aero products model E6-3B made in 1965 with the scrolling table. Very compact model, easy to use. Thank you for the review.🛩

Sure brought back memories of my early pilot training starting in 1962. I still have my Jeppessen circular “Whiz Wheel”. And, I used a Post VersLog slide rule in College (mechanical engineering). I retired off the Boeing 767 over 20 years ago. The Boeing had a Flight Management Computer (two actually) that did all our calculations for us. EXCELLENT explanation, though.

Much like the Magnetic Compass {compared to GPS}, the BATTERIES in an E6B {compared to an equivalent electronic device} will NEVER RUN DOWN, or REQUIRE RECHARGING...👍

E6B represent! Bonus points for Fatboy Slim intro. 😁

They gave me one of those when I enrolled in flight school. Used it a couple times then went to Radio Shack and bought a scientific calculator. That and a cheat sheet of equations made navigation much easier.

I find it complicated to use it even on ground. I cannot imagine using it on a shaking cockpit. The markings are very small they need a magnifier.

I was a dab hand with a slide rule in school, to took to the flight computer like a duck to water. That was more than a few years ago, and I've totally forgotten how to use either of them :)

That DJ gag at the beginning was fantastic! I'd certainly hire you for a party!

Nicely presented video. It inspired me to do some research. You show an obituary photo of Louis Eugene Batori (1910-2018) an MIT graduate, who came to the USA in 1929 (or1932). Louis worked for Sperry Gyroscope Corp and Grumman on Long Island NY. for 15 years. He was convinced by his biological father Oscar E. Batori who came over at the end of WWII c1944 to leave Sperry and join him at the Batori Computer company, (New York). It is unsure of when Lou began running the company, but only Oscar was listed on all the numerous U.S. patents from 1944 to 1962. Most were variations of Dalton's E6-B. Oscar was responsible for the pilot's chronograph collaboration with Swiss watch maker Ulysse Nardin.

I used them quite a bit in my teens. Once you wrap your head around how they work, they function brilliantly.

At school in the CCF we were taught how to use one of those, it was referred to simply as a "Dalton Computer".

Used it during training. Haven’t touched one in 20 years now.

Stable operating system, never needed rebooting and I’ve had it for years.

Well, this was a wild ride.

I used these back in early 80’s. It was an excellent learning aid.

The Hybla Valley reference was a blast from the past for me. Living in Franconia, we went to my first McDonalds down there, way way back in the day...

I remember seeing this in my fathers "flightbag" when I was a little child, and that it did indeed look sci-fy.

I still have my dad's E-6B from the early 1950's. I've still got my mimi version from USAF pilot training from the late 1970's. Vance 78-04

At one point, I earned a Private Pilot Certificate. I also worked in IT as a software tester, so while I loved computers I don't entirely trust them. So while there were electronic tools available, they had software. And batteries, which could die and I'd need to carry extra batteries, blah, blah, blah. I loved that thing, though. I used it for flying, and sometimes for just general math. Mine was aluminum.

The circular slide portion is roughly replicated on Citizen's Skyhawk watch, letting one be super nerdy with just a bit of style.

Got my ASEL in '74. Still have my Flight Computer.

I learned E6B in my youth. Now all that is done by the GPS unit in the aircraft. The newest ones even tell you the wind direction, which falls out of the calculations for speed/course.

Whatever the topic, I love when you pop up in my notifications. This was very interesting and your opening reminds me of what a loon you are (that's a meant as a compliment) 💜

always love the cold opens!

I still use my E6B! I bought a digital version for an exam but I still needed my E6B for altitude computations. I also have the Jepson computer which I bought while instructing. I brush up my E6B skills regularly as a backup to my iPad which occasional fails in hot conditions.

I a so glad I came across your channel. I learned about things I had no real idea about.

Love pre computer navigation instruments.

15:19 Gene Roddenberry was himself a WW2 bomber pilot and later commercial pilot for Pan Am, he'd have been very familiar with an E6-B.

Thank you for covering the E6-B. I bought my aluminum E6-B when I was about 14 years old so I've had it for 55 years and I still use it. I also had a Jeppesen CR-3 computer but the plastic degraded over time and it became difficult to use. It may still be packed up in a box somewhere. I still want you to cover the Rude 2102-D Star Finder.

I'm not sure how the algorithm brought you to me but I am glad it did. I think your videos are interesting, informative and fun. Thanks.

This was used as a prop in an episode of Star Trek TOS

My mother was a pilot in the CAP during WWII. In her things, along with her uniform was a device very similar in a box marked US War Department.

Surprisingly, the E6B that my Dad got when he took flying lessons from Cessna doesn't have Mach conversion either. Guess he had to keep the Club's C-152 below the speed of sound! 🙂

At 15:58 you show a Mk. III Navigational Computor. From my dad's RAF Air Navigation Handbook "It is made in three types. Mks III, C and D can be secured to the thigh and are designed for use by the pilots when seated. They carry a pencil and a small note-pad under a flap, on the back of which is set a circular slide rule and a Height and Airspeed Computor for instruments calibrated isothermally (C) or according to the I.C.A.N. convention (D). Mk. III F is for use by Navigators, and apart from not having straps, a flap or a note-pad, is virtually the same as the other types". I can scan the pages for you if you wish.

I used a Jeppesen flight computer in the day, you can still buy them.

I purchased an E6B when I was in high school. I still have it.

You should do a video on vintage “optical measuring tape” coincidence rangefinders like the ranging/rangomatic series made by a subsidiary of Coleman for bow hunting, golfing, & shooting. They’ve been pretty much replaced by laser rangefinders.

This channel has just blown the F' up. 100k inbound, and you deserve it.

I would just like to tell you that the nerds on "the orange website" fully approve of this whole thing, and wish you the best. This is based on upvotes, not just my opinion.

I learned on one of them. They know have an electronic version but the manual will never have dead batteries.

Young pilot here. We are still trained on those.

Great Video, could you do one on Axis navigation aids , if you could find some

Nice! I feel like this video was long overdue

I still have and use my E6B.

Thank you. I wanted to spend 15 minutes learning how to use a device that no one will ever use again.

Interesting. My son gifted me a Citizen Nighthawk watch that has an internal rotating ring that has some of the functions of a flight computer. I used a slide rule for chemistry and physics equations in the 1960s so I should be able to figure out how to use this watch but the print is too small for me to read even with my reading glasses so I don't use it. It's just a very complicated appearing watch.

I have an original copy of the "Effects of Nuclear Weapons" on the back cover inside is a pocket with a Whizo like the flight computer design to calculate fallout patterns, safe distance from burst etc. Problem with it is the math guys on the design team hurried the work a bit and it can be 10% off plus or minus so use with a bit of caution. 4th edition was published I tried getting a copy from the US Govt Printing Office last year they had already sold out.

even though we have flight planning apps and stuff now, one should bust out the e6b every once in a while to plan a flight to keep the skills sharp.

At 8:47 you’re using the wrong symbol for degrees. Degrees never has a line under it. I think that’s called an ordinal? I’m really curious as to how you got that symbol in-copy and paste? Keyboard shortcut? I see this exact error often and want to understand its origin and methodology. Thanks!

Jesus this can solve more than my TI-84+ calculator I had in school! Sadly it can’t play Doom!

I have one of these in steel. Its from my grandfather's collection, He was a gunner in defiants and halifaxes. Unfortunately its only the top circular part. and lacks the plotting board.

Very clever invention.

Weapon of Choice! 🎉 intros too moist 😂❤

I actually prefer these to what replaced them, the calculator-like flight computer. Nowadays, of course a lot of airplanes have instrumentation that will do all the math for you but prior to that the non-commercial or military stuff didn't.

The e6b is great and very useful, but holy hell, if you're still using it, get yourself a cx-3 before you do cpl time building!

I use a whizz-wheel. Not only is it faster than pencil and paper, it is faster than an electronic calculator.

Good friend flew Huey's in Nam...he called it "the E6B confuser

I love your opening jokes. Especially this one.

Most important: the inflight calculations can be done one handed.

I own one of these, good thing to know how to use. Pretty sure it is Piper branded.

The slide rules are still extremely relevant because they don't need satellites or electricity to work anywhere anytime

I had trouble at school using a slide rule but never had any issues using my wizz wheel which got me through my PPL, then CPL exams and Flight Tests some 40 odd years ago. What's a _Magenta Line_ and how do you use it children? 😁

There is a TACAMO joke in here somewhere. Navy currently flies E-6B and I wonder if they use an E6B computer ha.

I am willing to place a small wager that the E6B Spock was using was actually Gene Roddenberry's...he Did fly B_24s during the second great debate

Thanks - great video. I have to rummage some more to find my own one from PPL training a few decades ago, so I can rewatch and follow along with your examples. I did find myself wondering how all those circular devices were so precisely printed, with lettering following all the right arcs. Any device that allowed typesetting at any angle - perhaps a new device for you to track down and explain?

Very informative, thank you

I had exactly one of these as a little kid! Only cost about 5 dollars

Still use one and a magnetic compass for backup

Love it

I had one as a kid the paper one never knew what is was or did at the time

But on Star Trek the E-6 had been recalibrated for space flight❗

Thanks. Great video.

If you walk with rhythm, you won't attract the worm. Seems like something you could manage.

There's an app for that?

Similar to a "slide ruler" function...

return of the canadork

My father in law was a career fighter pilot, started with p38. We were cleaning out his garage and I found one for nuke blast calculator. He grabbed it and said it was confidential. Then said probably not anymore. Not sure what happened to it. He also said survivability was more than likely zero.

Still have a plastic one in my flight bag