Online E6B Calculator & Simulator

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The E6-B flight computer combines a circular slide rule with a wind-triangle calculator. This simulator connects numerical answers to the physical settings of the instrument, helping you practice both the calculations and the process.

Enter the values you know and leave the quantity you want to calculate unentered. Grey figures are starting references; enter your own values to define the problem. Related answers update as enough information becomes available.

Select Calculator or Wind above the instrument to change sides. Use the zoom slider for a closer view. 

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Calculate True Airspeed from Calibrated Airspeed

True airspeed changes with air density. The E6B calculator uses calibrated airspeed, outside air temperature, and pressure altitude to calculate true airspeed and set the calculator wheel.

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Example: Find TAS at 6,000 Feet

Enter these values in Flight Conditions:

• Outside air temperature: 6°C

• Pressure altitude: 6,000 ft

• Calibrated airspeed: 100 kt

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The calculated true airspeed is approximately 110 kt. The wheel moves to show the corresponding CAS/TAS relationship. You can also enter CAS and TAS to align those speeds directly.

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The simulator uses an E6-B density approximation for this conversion, treating CAS as equivalent airspeed without a compressibility correction.

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Calculate Heading, Ground Speed, and Wind Correction Angle

The wind side of an E6-B shows how wind changes the heading required to maintain a course and the ground speed along that course.

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For a standard wind problem, enter true airspeed, wind direction, wind speed, and true course. Wind direction means the direction the wind is coming from.

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Example: Solve an E6B Wind Problem

Enter these values in order:

1. True airspeed: 100 kt

2. Wind from: 090° true

3. Wind speed: 23 kt

4. True course: 320° true

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The result is approximately:

• True heading: 330°

• Ground speed: 113 kt

• Wind correction angle: 10° right

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Watch the wind side rotate to the course and then slide the wind mark onto the true-airspeed arc. Ground speed reads beneath the center grommet.

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Find Wind from Heading and Ground Speed

You can also work backward through the wind triangle. Enter true airspeed, ground speed, true course, and true heading to calculate wind speed and direction.

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If you use magnetic course and magnetic heading, enter magnetic variation to connect them to true north. In this tool, positive variation is east and negative variation is west.

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Some combinations do not identify a unique wind solution. For example, true airspeed, wind speed, and wind correction angle can leave both a headwind and a tailwind possibility. Ground speed can distinguish those solutions.

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Calculate Flight Time, Distance, or Ground Speed

In Flight Time, enter any two quantities to calculate the third:

• Distance in nautical miles

• Ground speed in knots

• Flight time in hh:mm:ss

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Example: Find Flight Time for 85 Nautical Miles

Enter 85 NM and 170 kt ground speed. The flight time is 00:30:00. The calculator wheel aligns ground speed with the 60 RATE index, demonstrating the same speed–distance–time relationship used on a mechanical E6-B.

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Understand Pressure, Density, and True Altitude

The Flight Conditions panel connects temperature, altimeter setting, altitude, and airspeed calculations:

• Pressure altitude is altitude referenced to the standard pressure setting of 29.92 inHg.

• Density altitude expresses the altitude in the standard atmosphere with the same air density.

• True altitude is height above mean sea level. This simulator provides an approximate E6-B temperature correction using a sea-level reference.

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The density-altitude calculation assumes dry air. The true-altitude result is an approximation; actual atmospheric conditions and reporting-station elevation can affect the correction.

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Frequently Asked Questions about the E6B

Is this online E6B free?

Yes. FlightInsight’s E6B calculator and simulator are free to use in your browser, with no signup required.

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Are E6B and E6-B the same flight computer?

Yes. E6B and E6-B are common spellings for the same type of flight computer, also called a whiz wheel.

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Can I operate the E6B manually?

Yes. You can rotate the calculator disc, rotate and slide the wind assembly, and click the transparent wind face to place a wind dot. Open the ? button for detailed controls.

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What does wind correction angle mean?

Wind correction angle is the difference between your course and the heading needed to counter wind drift. This simulator displays right corrections as positive and left corrections as negative.

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Why can’t the calculator solve every combination of inputs?

A calculation needs enough independent information to identify an answer. Missing information can leave multiple possibilities, while conflicting entries can prevent a consistent solution.