As glass panels and EFBs become more widely used today, the calculations made by your grandfather on the famed E-6B analog flight computer are now handled with small, handheld electronic flight computers, or even displayed right on your glass panel. Today’s electronic flight computers are loaded with functionality, but there is still a case to be made by many CFIs for students to first know how to run a “Whiz Wheel.”
What to Look For in a Flight Computer
Key Takeaways:
- While modern aviation increasingly uses electronic flight computers for efficient calculations displayed on glass panels or handheld devices, many CFIs still advocate for students to first learn using the traditional analog E-6B ("Whiz Wheel").
- Electronic flight computers, like the CX-3, offer extensive functionality for various aviation calculations and are approved for FAA exams, with more affordable electronic E6B options also widely used by pilots.
- The analog E-6B provides a foundational understanding of aviation calculation concepts, performing slide rule and wind-related procedures, and offers the practical advantage of never needing batteries.
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