Best Electronic E6B?

[Lakeview Bill]

I'm working on my Christmas list, and I am looking at electronic E6B
computers. I will be using it during my training/testing for a Sport Pilot
certificate. Here's what I'm looking at:

Sporty's E6B - $59.95

Jeppesen TechStar Flight Computer - $49.95

CX-2 Pathfinder Flight Computer - $79.95

Can anybody give me any pros/cons of these models, or suggest any other
models that can be used for FAA tests?

Which would be most appropriate for Day VFR, as I will only be able to get a
Sport Pilot certificate?

Which offers the most bang for the buck?

Thanks!

[Chris G.]

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The cons of any of the electronic ones is that the batteries will run
dead when you need it the most and can't replace the batteries (cuz you
are flying and/or just don't have batteries).

The Pros: You have a piece of history in your hands ;)

Chris

Lakeview Bill wrote:
> I'm working on my Christmas list, and I am looking at electronic E6B
> computers. I will be using it during my training/testing for a Sport Pilot
> certificate. Here's what I'm looking at:
>
> Sporty's E6B - $59.95
>
> Jeppesen TechStar Flight Computer - $49.95
>
> CX-2 Pathfinder Flight Computer - $79.95
>
> Can anybody give me any pros/cons of these models, or suggest any other
> models that can be used for FAA tests?
>
> Which would be most appropriate for Day VFR, as I will only be able to get a
> Sport Pilot certificate?
>
> Which offers the most bang for the buck?
>
> Thanks!
>
>
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[Wolfgang Kemper]

Chris G. wrote:
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>
> The cons of any of the electronic ones is that the batteries will run
> dead when you need it the most and can't replace the batteries (cuz you
> are flying and/or just don't have batteries).
I had a discussion with my ground instructors about this issue.
Frankly spoken if you are concerned about battery lifetime I guess you
do hand prop your plane and have a signal-mirror to establish two way
communication :-)

Yes I have the slide version of the e6b with me but I have never used it
The batteries in a electronic e6b last for ever (I have the Jeppsen) and
it take me 20 sec. to replace it. (Yes I was curious and did this during
flight just to see if my instructor was right)

My only concern is the display if you have direct sunshine on it.

Maybe this is a personal thing but I need less time to use the
electronic version than to fiddle with the slide. And I need only one hand.

Just a remark: I love the old way, I have a slide rule which I use at
work and I use the slide E6B when I do my flight planning.
But during the flight I want to use the most effective and easy tool I
could get.

Maybe we should suggest to jeppsen,sporty, etc to develop a e6b with
solar cells , just to overcome the old battery story (well during night
flight you need them again):-)



>
> The Pros: You have a piece of history in your hands ;)
>

[Jay Honeck]

> Which offers the most bang for the buck?

None of the above.

Neither Mary nor I have ever used an E6B since we got our tickets. Not
once, in over 1500 hours and ten years of flying.

Put your money toward a nice GPS, or a good pair of ANR headphones. At
least *those* won't end up in a box in a closet.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Michael Ware]

I agree. I think I have used my Jepp in the plane maybe once. Do a thorough
job of planning on the ground and you really shouldn't need one. Save up for
a GPS or spare headset.

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:IvOcf.317953$084.101169@attbi_s22...
> > Which offers the most bang for the buck?
>
> None of the above.
>
> Neither Mary nor I have ever used an E6B since we got our tickets. Not
> once, in over 1500 hours and ten years of flying.
>
> Put your money toward a nice GPS, or a good pair of ANR headphones. At
> least *those* won't end up in a box in a closet.
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>
>

[john smith]

> Put your money toward a nice GPS, or a good pair of ANR headphones. At
> least *those* won't end up in a box in a closet.

The GPS will have an E-6B program embedded.
I use mine during flight to calculate density altitude for power
settings.
Time and distance are automatically performed in the NAV mode of the GPS.
Fuel calculation are simple given the flow and information from the NAV
display.

[Thomas Borchert]

Chris,

> The cons of any of the electronic ones is that the batteries will run
> dead when you need it the most and can't replace the batteries (cuz you
> are flying and/or just don't have batteries).
>

Ah, and the cons of the mechanical ones is that they will break when you
need it the most. Whoop! Whoop! Red herring alert!!!

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

[Matt Whiting]

Jay Honeck wrote:

>>Which offers the most bang for the buck?
>
>
> None of the above.
>
> Neither Mary nor I have ever used an E6B since we got our tickets. Not
> once, in over 1500 hours and ten years of flying.
>
> Put your money toward a nice GPS, or a good pair of ANR headphones. At
> least *those* won't end up in a box in a closet.

Likewise, but I had to learn again to take my commercial written last
December and it appears I'll have to relearn again to pass the practical
exam. I'm hoping to find some freeware for my PalmPilot for the test as
I'll not need it again after that. I just can't imagine a single pilot
trying to draw on the wiz wheel while flying in turbulence...


Matt

[Jose]

> I'm hoping to find some freeware for my PalmPilot for the test as I'll not need it again after that.

CoPilot, by Laurie Davis.

Jose
--
He who laughs, lasts.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

[Matt Whiting]

Jose wrote:

>> I'm hoping to find some freeware for my PalmPilot for the test as I'll
>> not need it again after that.
>
>
> CoPilot, by Laurie Davis.

I have that, but it seems to lack a few of the essential E6B functions.
I like the W&B capability however.

Matt

[Lakeview Bill]

My understanding is that you can't use a Palm for your FAA tests due to it's
"storage" capabilities.

Which is why I am looking at the electronic E6B's.

I have the Sporty's E6B on my Palm.





"Matt Whiting" > wrote in message
...
> Jay Honeck wrote:
>
> >>Which offers the most bang for the buck?
> >
> >
> > None of the above.
> >
> > Neither Mary nor I have ever used an E6B since we got our tickets. Not
> > once, in over 1500 hours and ten years of flying.
> >
> > Put your money toward a nice GPS, or a good pair of ANR headphones. At
> > least *those* won't end up in a box in a closet.
>
> Likewise, but I had to learn again to take my commercial written last
> December and it appears I'll have to relearn again to pass the practical
> exam. I'm hoping to find some freeware for my PalmPilot for the test as
> I'll not need it again after that. I just can't imagine a single pilot
> trying to draw on the wiz wheel while flying in turbulence...
>
>
> Matt

[Jim Macklin]

For in-flight use, the wiz-wheel is handy to see proportion,
set the air speed and then distance/time are all visible by
inspection, no need to press any buttons.
Electronic calculators and PDAs don't impress the unwashed,
they have iPods. But a wiz-wheel will get their attention.
Besides, even Spock used a full-size E6b on an episode of
StarTrek to navigate deep space.



--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm



"Lakeview Bill" > wrote in message
m...
| My understanding is that you can't use a Palm for your FAA
tests due to it's
| "storage" capabilities.
|
| Which is why I am looking at the electronic E6B's.
|
| I have the Sporty's E6B on my Palm.
|
|
|
|
|
| "Matt Whiting" > wrote in message
| ...
| > Jay Honeck wrote:
| >
| > >>Which offers the most bang for the buck?
| > >
| > >
| > > None of the above.
| > >
| > > Neither Mary nor I have ever used an E6B since we got
our tickets. Not
| > > once, in over 1500 hours and ten years of flying.
| > >
| > > Put your money toward a nice GPS, or a good pair of
ANR headphones. At
| > > least *those* won't end up in a box in a closet.
| >
| > Likewise, but I had to learn again to take my commercial
written last
| > December and it appears I'll have to relearn again to
pass the practical
| > exam. I'm hoping to find some freeware for my PalmPilot
for the test as
| > I'll not need it again after that. I just can't imagine
a single pilot
| > trying to draw on the wiz wheel while flying in
turbulence...
| >
| >
| > Matt
|
|

[Matt Whiting]

Lakeview Bill wrote:

> My understanding is that you can't use a Palm for your FAA tests due to it's
> "storage" capabilities.
>
> Which is why I am looking at the electronic E6B's.
>
> I have the Sporty's E6B on my Palm.

I was talking flight test, not written. I've already done the written
and just relearned the old wiz wheel for that. It is easy to use
sitting at a desk. In flight is something else entirely different!

Matt

[Matt Whiting]

Jim Macklin wrote:

> For in-flight use, the wiz-wheel is handy to see proportion,
> set the air speed and then distance/time are all visible by
> inspection, no need to press any buttons.
> Electronic calculators and PDAs don't impress the unwashed,
> they have iPods. But a wiz-wheel will get their attention.
> Besides, even Spock used a full-size E6b on an episode of
> StarTrek to navigate deep space.

Yes, the try to do a wind triangle problem in flight with a wiz wheel.
Calculators are much easier for this. Sure, simply time-rate-distance
and fuel consumption and similar stuff is fairly easy. It is the vector
problems that are a pain.


Matt

[Kevin Kubiak]

Jay Honeck wrote:
>>Which offers the most bang for the buck?
>
>
> None of the above.
>
> Neither Mary nor I have ever used an E6B since we got our tickets. Not
> once, in over 1500 hours and ten years of flying.
>
> Put your money toward a nice GPS, or a good pair of ANR headphones. At
> least *those* won't end up in a box in a closet.
The Garmin units have a built in E6B. At least my 196 does. It is off of
the main menu as a tab.

Kevin Kubiak - PP-ASEL