Time, speed, distance, fuel. These are the mantras of the pilot. In the old days (pre-1990s), pilots relied on this device to solve such in-flight quandaries as “If I fly 40 minutes and consume 75 gallons, when will I run out of gas and plow into that mountain?” One side of the E-6B is devoted to such issues, and the other, to figuring out your true direction and speed while correcting for the nefarious effects of wind. These days, you can pick up a digital version of the E-6B for $60 that does a heck of a lot more — but nothing says “veteran aviator” like this baby tucked under your arm. (To see how modern fliers plot their flights, check out the DUATS system at duats.com.)
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