E6b Flight Computer Exercises Verified [exclusive] < RECOMMENDED >

Mastering the E6B flight computer (or "Whiz Wheel") is a core skill for any pilot. Below are verified practice exercises designed to test your proficiency on both the Calculator Side (time, speed, distance) and the Wind Side (groundspeed, headings). 1. Speed, Time, and Distance (Calculator Side)

These problems use the outer scale for distance/speed and the inner scale for time. Remember to align the Rate Arrow (the black triangle at "60") with your speed. Given Data Verified Answer A GS: 125 kts, Distance: 245 nm Find Time En Route 1:58 (1 hr 58 min) B GS: 147 kts, Time: 47 min Find Distance Flown 115 nm C Distance: 33 nm, Time: 25 min Find Groundspeed 79 kts D Distance: 2 NM, GS: 72 KTS Find Time Required 1 min 40 sec 2. Fuel Consumption and Endurance

Align the Rate Arrow with your Gallons Per Hour (GPH) on the outer scale. Given Data Verified Answer A Burn Rate: 8.4 GPH, Total Fuel: 63 gal Find Endurance 7 hrs 30 min B Time: 4 hrs 20 min, Fuel Used: 32 gal Find Average Burn Rate 7.4 GPH C Burn Rate: 8.5 GPH, Time: 7.5 min Find Fuel Consumed ~1.1 gal 3. Wind and Heading (Wind Side)

These exercises require using the sliding card and the "grommet" (center hole). These steps follow standard FAA Knowledge Test formats. Verified Answer Wind Correction Wind: 290° @ 18 ktsCourse: 125°TAS: 85 kts GS: 102 kts; WCA: -3° (Left) Finding Wind True Course: 345°True Heading: 355°TAS: 85 ktsGS: 95 kts Wind: 238° @ 18 kts Magnetic Heading Course: 125°Wind: 219° @ 27 ktsTAS: 145 kts GS: 153 kts; WCA: -10° 4. Altitude and Airspeed Corrections

Use the small "windows" on the calculator side to account for non-standard pressure and temperature. e6b flight computer exercises verified

Density Altitude: Set Outside Air Temperature (OAT) opposite Pressure Altitude.

Example: OAT: 25°C, Pressure Altitude: 2,300 ft. Density Altitude = 4,000 ft.

True Airspeed (TAS): Set Pressure Altitude opposite OAT in the airspeed window. Look at Calibrated Airspeed (CAS) on the inner scale to find TAS on the outer scale.

Example: Pressure Altitude: 5,000 ft, OAT: -15°C, CAS: 90 kts. TAS = 95 kts. Quick Tips for Accuracy Mastering the E6B flight computer (or "Whiz Wheel")

Part 5: Why "Verified" Matters

Why practice these specific exercises? Because in the air, you cannot trust your gut.

If you are in the cockpit and your GPS fails, and you calculate a Ground Speed of 150 knots when your GPS was just showing 110 knots, you must know instantly if your math is wrong. By practicing "verified" exercises with known answers, you build a library of mental benchmarks. You develop a "reality check" that tells you:

"A 20-knot crosswind shouldn't reduce my ground speed by 50 knots. I must have misread the slide."

Part 1: Why "Verified" Exercises Matter

The E6B (both the circular slide rule side and the wind side) is prone to user error. Misreading the scale by a factor of 10 or forgetting to align the “grommet” (center dot) with the wind direction leads to disastrous flight plans.

"Verified" means:

The problem has been cross-checked using three methods (manual E6B, electronic E6B, and formula).
The answer falls within acceptable PTS (Practical Test Standards) tolerances (usually ±2% for mechanical calculations).
You can reverse-engineer the solution to find your mistake.

Never practice with random online problems that lack answer keys. You will inadvertently train bad habits.

Part 3: Density Altitude & True Airspeed (TAS) Exercises

These calculations use the air temperature and pressure altitude (altimeter set to 29.92).

Exercise 3.1 – Basic Wind Triangle

Problem:
True course (TC) = 090°, TAS = 110 kts, Wind = 030° at 20 kts. Find wind correction angle (WCA) and groundspeed.

Steps (using E6B wind side):

Rotate ring so wind direction (030°) is at top index.
Mark wind dot 20 kts up from center grommet.
Rotate to TC (090°) under index.
Slide dot over TAS (110) arc.
Read WCA left/right of centerline: ~10° left (so TH = 080°).
Read groundspeed under dot: ~102 kts.

Verified answers:

True heading = 080°
Groundspeed = 102 kts