Vectorwright E6B Calculator

What it does

Vectorwright is a flight computer for student pilots, private pilots and instructors. It works like a hardware calculator: a navy chassis, real keys and a clear LCD, with each answer labelled so you know what you are reading.

Worked examples

• Wind triangle. TC 090, TAS 120, wind 180/20 -> true heading 099.6, GS 118.3.
• Fuel endurance. 40 gal at 8.5 gal/h, GS 120 -> endurance 4:42.
• Density altitude. 5000 ft at 30.12 inHg, OAT 25 C -> density altitude.
• Crosswind. Wind 270/20 on runway 24.
• Descent. Descend 6000 ft at 120 kt -> top of descent 18.8 NM.

How it's calculated

Every trade key and the formula behind it, as shown in the app's key guide. A second legend is the shifted function.

TAS CASTrue airspeed / Calibrated airspeed

Stores the typed true airspeed (knots, or km/h under metric). Shifted takes a calibrated airspeed and gives TAS = CAS ÷ √σ from the stored altitude, altimeter setting and outside air temperature (standard temperature when none is stored).

Crs VarTrue course / Magnetic variation

Stores the typed true course; press again for the magnetic course. Shifted stores the magnetic variation, east positive (use ± for west): magnetic = true − variation.

Hdg Wind?Heading / Find the wind

Solves the wind triangle from TAS, course and wind: true heading, then wind correction angle, ground speed and magnetic heading on later presses. A typed heading is stored instead. Shifted finds the wind from TAS, heading, course and ground speed (a typed number is taken as the ground speed).

Wind DirWind speed / Wind direction

Stores the typed wind speed, or a typed angle (with °) as the direction the wind blows from; with nothing typed shows the speed, then the direction. Shifted stores the direction.

GS DescGround speed / Descent planning

Stores the typed ground speed, or solves GS = distance ÷ time. Shifted takes the altitude to lose in feet and gives the top of descent distance on a 3° path, then the descent rate for 3° (about 5 × GS), the rate needed to lose it over the stored distance, and the path angle.

Dist TimeDistance / Time

Stores the typed distance (nautical miles, or km under metric), or solves distance = GS × time. Shifted stores a time in decimal hours or hours ° minutes, or solves time = distance ÷ GS, shown as hours:minutes:seconds.

Fuel RateFuel / Fuel burn rate

Stores the typed fuel on board (US gallons, or litres under metric); with nothing typed steps through fuel, endurance, range, fuel required for the stored time and fuel weights at 6.0 lb per gallon. Shifted stores the burn rate per hour.

Alt BaroAltitude / Altimeter setting

Stores the typed field elevation or indicated altitude in feet and shows pressure altitude = altitude + (29.92 − setting) × 1000. Shifted stores the altimeter setting in inches of mercury or hectopascals.

DA OATDensity altitude / Outside air temperature

Density altitude from the pressure altitude and outside air temperature by the standard atmosphere; later presses show pressure altitude, standard temperature, deviation and the PA + 118.8 × (OAT − ISA) rule. A typed number is taken as the temperature. Shifted stores the temperature in °C.

XWnd OffCrosswind / Off course correction

Takes a runway number 1..36 or heading and gives the headwind, then the crosswind and its side, for the stored wind (use the magnetic wind with runway numbers). Shifted takes the distance off course and gives the track error 60 × off ÷ distance flown (the stored distance), then the correction to rejoin.

For flight planning and training only. Not a substitute for approved flight manuals, current charts, weather briefings or instruments, and not for navigation in flight. Verify every result. The developer accepts no liability for loss or damage arising from use.