You DON'T Need an E6B Flight Computer (PPL Lesson 48)

Make all your flight calculations WITHOUT a flight computer! This video explains how to make all the calculations you might need in flight without dragging out the E6B! This is Private Pilot Ground lesson 48! This training is intended to follow the aeronautical knowledge areas in Part 61.105 section b for single engine aircraft.
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[@aliptera]

6 minutes is 0.1h. Flying at X kts means X/10 nm every 6 minutes. Any time/distance/speed calculation you can approximate using 6 min "chunks" without any calculator with sufficient practical precision. Also distance covered in 10min=X/6 nm, in 15min=X/4 nm, in 20min=X/3 nm, and obviously in 30min =X/2 nm

[@FreePilotTraining]

Great tips! Thank you!

[@marklindsey1995]

This is how the military taught me. Great technique.

[@dantoylamb1136]

Can you make a quick video on this technique?

[@kaikitree]

Seriously, everything about these videos - they just get better. The perfectly rad music, the visuals, your calm and clear voice. Thank you, thank you. My dad's a retired captain for United Airlines, my bro's a certified instructor with a Cessna and because of your videos, this single lady artist can learn all I need and carry on the family legacy without digging deeper into debt. You rock more than words can say - life changing. Thank you to you and Mike! Ya probably don't need it, but feel free to quote me and would love to check out your app when it happens. -Molly M.

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thank you so much! Hopefully I can start working on an app very soon! I also hope to remake some of my earlier videos!

[@Ali-fx6qp]

Bro, I just want to shake your hand 🤝🏼 amazing! Thank you for all of this 👍🏼

[@FreePilotTraining]

You’re welcome! 🤝

[@ryanlive819]

This was a great video! Thanks!

[@FreePilotTraining]

You’re welcome!

[@PaulPilot-ke1if]

E6-B is still a good foundation when first learning in the classroom. . Then ditch it for electronic and even rule of thumb.

[@PghGameFix]

another good video. Thanks for that. I'm talking a short flight today, and I will keep this all in mind.

[@FreePilotTraining]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@Herk_Derp_20]

Love the river tour!

[@FreePilotTraining]

You may have been the one with me. Not sure lol

[@miked2662]

Really bagging on us Army Aviation vets lol Great video man!

[@FreePilotTraining]

😆 sorry, can’t help myself! Just a friendly rivalry! Thanks!

[@bodake2557]

Holy crap! thank you, High res and well produced! thank you so much this was really pissing me off trying to figure out. Army proof...nice

[@FreePilotTraining]

😂 You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@mojo7618]

Thanks!

[@FreePilotTraining]

No problem!

[@xaangagale4486]

Useful video I wish I knew this channel months ago

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thanks! I wish you did too 😏

[@CaptainCobra22V]

Thank you very very very much 🙏, you saved 💰 🙏

[@FreePilotTraining]

You’re welcome!

[@user-cx8wq2rq7v]

There is also a basic trigonometry way to determine wca and gs as well. With help of the sinus rule we can determine all sides and angles of a triangle if we know 2 sides and 1 angle. TAS/sin(windangle) = WS / sin (wca) where TAS Is true airspeed, windangle is the angle between true course and winddirection, WS is windspeed and wca is wind correction or drift angle. If wca is known the 3rd angle of the triangle is known because 180 - WA - wca = 3rd angle. And with that we can also calculate the GS (eg third side) by same sinus rule.

[@izzat003]

im used to CRP5, so actually for me personally its quicker to be using crp5 because im familiar with it. heard its expensive at europe and USA but at malaysia its super cheap. but now im using the crp5 apps instead of the physical one

[@Arturo-lapaz]

20:40 easy calculation of true airspeed As a CFII since the late 60's , I have taught this method: 1) the true airspeed is the product of the CAS, approximated by the indicated airspeed times the RDR. RDR ? This is the root density ratio: Square root of (sealevel density divided by the density at the indicated flight altitude). This RDR is so simple that it is easy to memorize: altitude (ASL) RDR temperature 0 1.00 15 C 3000 ft 1.05 9 C 6000 ft 1.10 3 C 9000 ft 1.15 -3 C 12000 ft 1.200 -9 C 15000 ft 1.26 -15 C 18000ft 1.33 -21 C This is accurate as long as Your rule of the temperature outside is applicable: third column. When the outside temperature differs , then a correction can be used : by example at 12000 feet instead of -9 C say the OAT is +6 C, a difference of + 15° 15 divided by 264, ( -9C in °Kelvin) is approximately 5.6% . Then the calculated TAS, incremented by ½ 5.6% = 2.8% is the accurate TAS, as you can verify on your computer. As you can verify all other factors on the table. Any error is due to the difference of indicated to calibrated airspeed. This is an accurate method that makes the calculation of density altitude for True airspeed unnecessary. It is based on exact computation of the density for the ISA . Used for the design of the scales on the flight computer directly.

[@Arturo-lapaz]

😊

[@JuanPabloParraMartinez]

Simply use T(time) = D(distance)/V(velocity) formula.

[@Jerry10939]

Interesting video and informative. I always want a backup to whatever system I am using. Analog to my digital electronic navigation. I actually prefer paper charts, my E6B and plotting , dead reckoning and pilotage to my GPS. But if any system fails have a backup, even if it is doing calculations in my head.

[@FreePilotTraining]

It’s always good to have a backup

[@duck8641]

Thanks for sharing. Great video. Just one more question. Assuming inoperative GPS and calculating for a diversion how can you tell the NM travelled in a minute to find the GS? I cannot think of a way without the GPS and no planned checkpoint as well since it is going to be a diversion.

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thanks! If you have a VFR sectional, you can use 1 minute of latitude. 1 minute = 1 NM.

[@user-cx8wq2rq7v]

Thanks for your great video but should the ISA temperature not be 15 - 1.732/1.000x2 = 11.536 C ?

[@Nhawthorne9274]

You can use a calculator to figure crosswind and headwind components using Sin and Cos functions as well. Personally I think it is quicker.

[@Nhawthorne9274]

Wind direction-runway heading to give you the angle difference. Take that number and press the “Sin” button and then multiply by the windspeed. Negative number is left crosswind and positive number will give you a right crosswind. (180wind direction- 140 runway heading)= (40)Sin = .6427* 20 knot windspeed = 13 knot right crosswind* rounded up.

[@FreePilotTraining]

Great tip! Thank you!

[@Nhawthorne9274]

@@FreePilotTraining no problem! Thank you for all the great videos you do!

[@freepilot7732]

I created an excel sheet with advanced formulas to figure the WCA and all other answers. All I have to do is plug in the factual numbers ie, wind and speed, TC Fuel burn. I can keep going.

[@Nhawthorne9274]

@@freepilot7732 That id awesome! Excel is an amazing thing if you know how to use it!

[@brianberezowski5352]

ANOTHER AWESOME video. LOVE the content, your explanations make it easy to follow. Now ... I gotta PRACTICE. Really looking forward to your next video .. x-country and pilotedge. THANK YOU CYQT 👍🇨🇦👍

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thanks Brian! I’m looking forward to making that one. It’s going to be fun!

[@libertycowboy2495]

Retired Army guy here. Thanks for the rides AF! 😆

[@FreePilotTraining]

😆you’re welcome! Sorry our air conditioning isn’t the greatest back there. 😂

[@malakov5]

All of these methods are nice during planning phase for sure. Question is: will my DPE blast me for whipping out my phone or calculator to do some of these conversions or will they prefer e6b? Personally e6b is close enough and fast enough that I’d prefer it unless the mental math is nice and round… maybe it’s just me

[@FreePilotTraining]

It really depends on the DPE, but it won’t be any different than pulling out an electronic flight computer. Mental math is definitely the way to go after you get the license. It takes a little more practice, but it’s a very handy skill in the plane

[@nicjansen230]

I think it's easier to look for pattens. For example: 7.5 gallons in 45 minutes, how many gallons per hour? 45 minutes is 3/4 of an hour, 7.5 is 3/4 of 10, so 10 gallons per hour. This gives indications If you can't completely figure it out in a few seconds, and you can verify it using a calculator In complicated engineering problems, you often use a computer to figure it out by simulating or doing a few steps or so, but you should be aware of what kind of number you should expect, so that's when I use this kind of estimation

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thanks for the tip! I actually do this too, I just didn’t realize it until you said it. Lol

[@Jerry10939]

Wind correction the way you are doing it is called set and drift. It’s pretty much the same for boating. It’s how I do it. But I note how far off course I have sailed or flown in a certain amount of time. Note where I am off course, mark it. Then I draw a line from where I calculated from where I should have been to where I am . Note the distance. As set is the direction off your vector, and drift is distance and time. Now you can set up for an intercept of your old course or draw a new line to your destination and adjust your heading from there.

[@FreePilotTraining]

I didn’t know that. Thanks for the comment!

[@jakehowe8676]

Is it possible to use a normal ruler and protractor on a piece of paper for wind calculations if we don't have a plotter?

[@FreePilotTraining]

Yes. It is possible. It’s more difficult though and you’d have to use some kind of scale.

[@thomasyuhas]

Hey Josh-- great video! I have come across another formula to determine Density Altitude. I think I found this on a web site about the affect of Density Altitude on ballistic bullets for those long range targets. The formula does not involve calculating ISA Temp. just need Outside temp in Celsius. 1.24(PA) + 118.8(OAT) -1782 = DA PA= Pressure Alt. OAT= Outside Air Temp in Celsius DA= Density Alt You can easily calculate PA by the following: PA= (29.92-Baro)X1000 + Field Elevation Just watch that you have a negative number if current Barometric Pressure is greater than standard .

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thanks Tom! That’s awesome! That’s much easier than the one I found. Thank you!

[@Andreas-nh3cs]

It's very useful video for me because I am not a pilot, yet )

[@FreePilotTraining]

Thanks!

[@informalfallacies]

I never thought I'd prefer the whiz wheel for anything until now.

[@FreePilotTraining]

Yeah, the whiz wheel is great, but this is nice for getting precise numbers

[@TigerTrussell]

I think at 19:49 the interpolation is wrong; you say 12.3 C which I believe is at 1,372 instead of 1,732; temp should be ~11.536 C. Right?

[@FreePilotTraining]

Yes, there’s a mistake there. I interpolated in the wrong direction

[@TigerTrussell]

@@FreePilotTraining Sorry not trying to nitpick, just following along and making sure I understand. Love your channel, thank you!

[@FreePilotTraining]

@@TigerTrussell nope. I appreciate comments like this. I do my best to fix errors. It’s going to be a while before I get to this one. I think it’s still helping students, so the video stays up

[@informalfallacies]

Maybe a nitpick, but want to ensure my math isn't whack. For the formula at 19:50, to find standard temp at altitude of 1732, I should subtract 3.464 from 15 to get 11.536. But you have 12.3. It's 2 degrees per 1k, and we have 1.732k, right?

[@FreePilotTraining]

You are correct. Somehow I got mixed up in that one

[@informalfallacies]

@@FreePilotTraining Thanks, man. Appreciate you responding to every question. Best free pilot lessons online. Wish you were in my area because I'm ready to start. The big flight schools in Indiana have tons of unnecessary overhead. :(

[@abeeconstable7877]

Great videos but could you look into your audio setup please? Your sound level is very low, so low that we need to turn up the volume to hear you and then when an ad comes in, it's blaring. Could you also double check your music overlay volume is lower than your voice? need to rewind to make out what your saying.

[@FreePilotTraining]

I’m really sorry about that. I’m not sure why that’s happening. I’ve turned the sound up to keep that from happening, but it keeps doing it for some reason

[@earlpener]

I'm finding this as well.

[@abeeconstable7877]

@@FreePilotTraining Maybe it's Google doing it? They seem to like mucking up stuff.

[@FreePilotTraining]

@@abeeconstable7877 in my next video, I’m going to try turning my sound way up and making it really loud. I’m hoping that will fix the problem

[@astorp12345]

I am getting plenty of volume. I suspect because the audio is lacking low end it might not be coming through for some. Just thought I would chime in with what I am hearing.

[@mikecoffee100]

But I like my E6B Computer however this was a very very Informative video

[@FreePilotTraining]

I do too, but I’ve forgotten my E6B before. Lol

[@carolinewynton-rhodes3810]

Pilot nav is perfect in flight. ln fact l expect my students to use mental arithmetic. Unfortunately today, those entering aviation have little mental arithmetic ability due to reliance on electronic devices. These electronic devices are fine until the the batteries go flat. Then they are in trouble.

[@FreePilotTraining]

That is so true. Thanks for the comment!

[@freepilot7732]

I must be mistaken all these years. Now mind you, I'm not arguing safety, merely legality. You can't land with less than your reserve of fuel? I thought you can't take off with the calculated needed fuel plus the reserve. Using some of your reserve is not illegal.

[@FreePilotTraining]

That’s the way I read it, but I suppose you could look at it another way. It says you can’t “begin a flight unless there is enough fuel” § 91.151 Fuel requirements for flight in VFR conditions. (a) No person may begin a flight in an airplane under VFR conditions unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing and, assuming normal cruising speed - (1) During the day, to fly after that for at least 30 minutes; or (2) At night, to fly after that for at least 45 minutes.

[@freepilot7732]

@@FreePilotTraining that's what I meant. You can't begin a flight less than enough fuel to the (destination) plus reserve. You don't have to maintain the reserve in your tanks when landing. Though I agree with the concept not to push it. If I know I'm going to burn 1/2 of my reserve when I arrive (calculated) , I will make a pit stop. Though to be honest I've never flown that close. I manage my fuel much better to put myself in that situation. Happy flying.

[@FreePilotTraining]

@@freepilot7732 Agreed. It’s just funny cuz the FAA is going to interpret it however they want if you run out of fuel though. Lol

[@vanseelife493]

I don't think your ISA temp. for the calculating density altitude problem (19:40 mark) is correct. It's a linear variation with altitude, a 1,732 foot elevation is much closer to 2, 000 feet, than 1,000 feet, so your ISA temp. should be much closer to 11 degrees C, than 13 degrees C. Using the ISA temp. calculation formula you get 11.5 degrees C. Which matches eyeballing where it should be.

[@FreePilotTraining]

Yep. You’re right. I messed that up. It should be around 11.5. Good catch

[@tomstrickland4353]

where are the links

[@FreePilotTraining]

Should be in the description below the video

[@tracer0017]

Are we supposed to do this kind of Math in our heads? I cant divide 10 by 60 and get 1.833 for example LOL . So for me the E6B is just easier. Most of the examples were just complex. divide these 2 numbers then multiply by this number which of course included fractions. Or am I missing something?

[@FreePilotTraining]

No. In many situations you can use a normal calculator and find an answer more quickly than with a flight computer, PLUS this method allows you to estimate very quickly with no calculator. Say 10 divided by 60= Estimate 2 your estimations will be very close

[@PickleRickSanchez]

Real talk, is it worth it to just buy the e6b?

[@FreePilotTraining]

It’s worth it. I’m just making a point that you don’t need one the military doesn’t give them to their pilots for this very reason

[@rinzler9775]

Its always good as a mental double check as well.

[@dallasC822]

It’s nice to have both. I bought a flight computer and a E6B. I’ve used both. I prefer the flight computer because it’s a faster and can compute multiple metrics with the same base information that you feed it. Essentially it’s plug and play. The E6B does the same but in a analog fashion. Both e6b and flight computer have a learning curve but in my opinion the flight computer on the written tests and on the flight deck is the way to go. There’s something to be said however to analog in the case your computer has run out of batteries.

[@carolinewynton-rhodes3810]

@@dallasC822 i won't allow my students to use any device other than mental arithmetic. However, I'm not that cruel, if they're struggling, l put them out of their misery where they can use a device to resolve the problem.....then back to mental agility

[@rv-ation9603]

It's not illegal to land an aircraft with less than 30 minute reserves onboard (Part 91-VFR NOTE: IFR wording makes it a bit more legally "sticky"). The regs only govern the flight planning portion. That being said, I'm not advocating running to empty and not trying to start a conversation about what's smart and what's not, just pointing out a common piece of mis-information. Cheers!

[@FreePilotTraining]

True, but you must plan to land with the min reserves

[@julietphillips1991]

My head hurts. DIY MAN is so much easier! There is math there too, but knot like this! True altitude does not lie?!

[@FreePilotTraining]

lol! You found me!

[@dkoz8321]

Small private planes need to be as easy to operate as passenger cars. Get in and go. With onboard computers making flightplans and managing fuel and systems. In an unsafe condition , such as insufficient fuel, the computer would let you know to land and reccomend where. Right now this is far too complex, risky, error prone for general aviation to grow.

[@FreePilotTraining]

Yeah, it’d be nice if they were, but it does kinda make you feel a little more special being a pilot

[@ericmeekey7886]

I think GA planes are more comparable to motorcycles than passenger cars. It's best to ride them in good weather, they require special handling skills to operate safely, and their lack of protection from mishap demands a high situational awareness for practical travel from one place to another.

[@dkoz8321]

@@ericmeekey7886 Sorry. But no. Bikes and planes have no comparison. Aside that both are modes of transport. People ride in all sorts of weather, including effing freezing. No plans need to be made or loads computed. Boating and charter yachting is closer. Where planning, navigation, chart reading, weather, sea state, loading has real life and death consequences. Which is why masters licenses are required by Coast Guard.

[@dkoz8321]

@@FreePilotTraining Screw special! You special people make mistakes that kill you and passengers. JFK JR. lost daylight due to time, horizon due to sea ,and moonlight due to clouds. Then spun himself and his two girlfriends into sea off Nantucket Is. 20 year old hot singer Alyia , her musicians, and stage crew , along with flight crew of Gulfstream. crashed and burned on takeoff . Why? Becouse flight crew made errors in weight and balance of their Gulfstream . Resulting in heavy aircraft with CG out of envelope , so aircraft could not get and stay airborne. Ran out of runway and luck. First example could be avoided with synthetic vision projecting artificial horizon, ground , and artificial nightsky onto cockpit glass. Second could be avoided with weight sensors on landing gear and throughout fuselage to warn of hazardous weight and balance condition. Automatic download of weather report and GPS aided flight plan preview would alert crew of insufficient fuel for automatically computed flight time.

[@ericmeekey7886]

@dkoz8321 It depends on scale. Part 103 ultralight flying has little/no regulation beyond what the pilot can put up with from the atmosphere. Sport pilots can do a lot without needing a towered airfield or climbing to high altitude. I imagine water is still harder to regulate strictly than airspace in most parts of the world, though--there's still piracy and illicit resource extraction using exploited labor going on, for example. But nothing will ever beat the convenience of being a passenger in all modes of transit. It's easy to forget all the liabilities with just driving a car 'cross town that many people in big cities would rather not deal with.

[@tylerguerrero6978]

Correction. You are required to know how to calculate density altitude. Source my instructor

[@FreePilotTraining]

You’re not wrong! 😂

[@tylerguerrero6978]

@@FreePilotTraining should probably take that part out or add a *note 🤷🏽‍♂️ If a DPE asks you how and you say “I don’t know” you fail.

[@motogirlz101]

@@tylerguerrero6978 So if you don't know the answer on your checkride, is it better to give a wrong answer than to say, "I don't know." I know you're supposed to say, "Let me look that up," but what if you can't find it?

[@user-cx8wq2rq7v]

Oeps sorry, you already answered this questions.

[@bobason456]

Who can divide 130 by 1.83 in their head? best to keep that flight computer handy.

[@FreePilotTraining]

lol, I know of a few people actually. But, the point of this is that you can get fast and precise answers with a calculator just as easily as a flight computer where you have to round, OR you can round before you calculate and turn 1.83 into 2 and estimate 65 before you even pull your flight computer out of your bag.

[@frankmuller73]

correct , i rather use e6b

[@diegoramirez8674]

You don’t need fuel😎

[@FreePilotTraining]

Lol

[@PickleRickSanchez]

Wtf lol

[@columbiabuzz]

Hmm, congratulations you've discovered 6th grade unit analysis, now you can put those 2nd grade math skills to use. If you need to explain this to someone who is flying or wants to fly, do it in airspaces far away from me.

[@FreePilotTraining]

I don’t mind negative comments, but this one is super annoying. Not everyone remembers these skills from the 6th grade. Many people who go out and work actual jobs don’t use these basic skills and they go away very quickly. This is why no one can spell anymore. Everyone relies on their phone to wipe their butt for them. For those of us who have had real jobs and worked our way into this the hard way, this information is extremely valuable. Re-learning the 60:1 rule doesn’t mean these people are going to be dangerous pilots

[@lesliecruz9559]

Thanks!

[@FreePilotTraining]

You’re welcome! I appreciate the Super Thanks!

[@lesliecruz9559]

Thanks!

[@FreePilotTraining]

This Super Thanks means a lot! Thank you!