E6B flight computer online
The calculations you do on a paper E6B, with the working shown for each answer so you can check it against your written-test or checkride math. Altimeter settings in inHg, distances in nautical miles.
Wind correction angle, heading and groundspeed
Enter the true course from your chart, your true airspeed and the forecast wind (winds aloft are given from the true direction). The wind correction angle is how far to point into the wind; true heading is course plus that angle. Example: course 090°, TAS 110 kt, wind 140° at 20 kt → correct right 8.0°, heading 098°, groundspeed 96 kt.
From true heading, apply magnetic variation (east is least, west is best) for magnetic heading, then the compass deviation card.
Crosswind and headwind components
Use the wind the tower or ATIS gives you (magnetic) with the runway number. Example: runway 31 with wind 280° at 15 kt → crosswind 7 kt from the left, headwind 13 kt. Compare the crosswind with the maximum demonstrated crosswind in your POH — 15 kt for a Cessna 172S, 12 kt for a Cessna 152.
Time, speed and distance
Time in minutes = distance ÷ groundspeed × 60. At 120 kt you cover 2 NM per minute; at 90 kt, 1.5.
Fuel and reserves
Trip fuel = burn rate × time. For VFR, 14 CFR 91.151 requires enough fuel to reach the first point of intended landing plus 30 minutes at normal cruise by day, 45 minutes at night. Add taxi and climb fuel from the POH, and plan a bigger margin than the legal minimum.
Pressure altitude and density altitude
Pressure altitude = field elevation + (29.92 − altimeter setting) × 1,000. Density altitude adds 120 ft for every °C the air is warmer than standard (ISA = 15°C at sea level, minus 2°C per 1,000 ft). Example: a 5,000 ft airport with 29.82 inHg and 30°C → pressure altitude 5,100 ft, density altitude 8,124 ft — the airplane performs as if it were that high.
True airspeed
True airspeed is calibrated airspeed corrected for air density. The calculator uses the standard-atmosphere density ratio; the quick check is about 2% more than CAS per 1,000 ft of density altitude.
Descent planning
For a 3° path, start down at three times your thousands of feet to lose (NM) and descend at groundspeed × 5 (ft/min). The calculator also works for other angles.
The E6B in your flight bag, offline
TOGA EFB has the classic E6B wheel and these calculators in one app, plus a practice mode with E6B problems for the knowledge test — no signal needed.
- FAA approach plates, airport diagrams, departures and arrivals for 3,000+ US airports — switches to the new 28-day cycle on its effective date, and saves for offline use
- E6B flight computer and weight & balance for 9 training aircraft
- METAR and TAF decoded into plain English, with VFR / MVFR / IFR / LIFR
- Logbook that tracks progress toward 40 h private, 250 h commercial and 1,500 h ATP
Everything you use in the US is free — no subscription, no ads. iPhone, iPad and Android.
Weight & balance calculators · US airports: METAR, TAF and FAA charts
For practice and reference only — not for navigation or flight planning. Always check current official sources (FAA charts, Chart Supplement, NOTAMs, an official weather briefing). The pilot in command is responsible for the flight.