On Jul 27, 6:59 am, "Mark T. Dame" wrote:
wrote:

Whats best for simplicity and price? The Metal/Plastic E6B or the
electronic one?

If you can only get one, I would recommend a small metal E6B (e.g.http://www.mypilotstore.com/mypilotstore/sep/523).

The electronic version is much easier to use, but the metal one always
works. It's unlikely it will ever break and it's batteries will never
run down. Additionally, for some problems, you get a better idea of
what's going on with a mechanical version.

I still carry my paper one (although my GPS actually has one built in
as well). Its interesting that you point out that the electronic ones
are easier to use. I've not found that to be the case. In fact, when a
student arrives for flight training with me and they pull out the
electronic E6B, I cring a bit. I have yet to see any student who can
pull out their electronic E6B in flight, after I've given them a
diversion or something, and do anything other than just fiddle with
it. Even when they do come up with the answer it takes forever. I'm
not going to be able to become an expert on every electronic E6B out
there but when I've looked at what my students show up with I find
that I cannot understand how to use it without spending an hour or so
with the manual.
However, I can show a student how to calculate most of what they need
to be able to do with the manual E6B in about 15 minutes.

-Robert, CFII