Guides Tools Gear Find a CFI Find a School About
Gear Guide · Navigation · 2026
GearNavigationCross-Country 6 min read

E6B Flight Computers & Plotters — What Student Pilots Actually Need

The E6B is required equipment for your PPL checkride. Here's what to buy, the difference between mechanical and electronic, and why you need both.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links below earn us a small commission at no cost to you. This never influences our recommendations.

What the E6B does

The E6B is a circular slide rule that solves the core calculations every VFR pilot needs: wind correction angle and true heading, groundspeed, fuel burn, time/speed/distance, density altitude, true airspeed from indicated airspeed, and more. It's been the standard pilot navigation tool since World War II and is still required for the FAA Private Pilot checkride.

Your DPE will hand you a cross-country problem during the oral exam and expect you to work through it on an E6B. They don't care if you normally use ForeFlight — they want to see you understand the underlying math. Practice with the mechanical version until it's comfortable.

⚠️

Own a mechanical E6B before your checkride. Some DPEs specifically prohibit electronic calculators on the oral portion. Confirm with your CFI, but always own and practice with the mechanical version regardless.

Mechanical E6B — our pick

🏆 Best Mechanical Pick
ASA E6-B Flight Computer
The standard. Used by student pilots, instructors, and professional pilots for decades. Get this one.
~$20
typical street price
Why it works
  • Clear, well-labeled scales — easier to read than many competitors
  • Sturdy aluminum construction — won't crack under normal use
  • Comprehensive instruction booklet included
  • Industry standard — your CFI will know it and can teach it
  • Works in any temperature, no batteries, no screens to break
Limitations
  • Learning curve — takes 3–5 hours of practice to get comfortable
  • Slower than electronic for complex multi-leg planning
  • Easy to make errors if you rush
Buy this. Practice with it. Know it for your checkride. Every student pilot owns one of these.
View at Sporty's →

Electronic E6B — also get this

Highly Recommended
ASA CX-3 Electronic Flight Computer
Faster, more accurate, and less error-prone for actual flight planning. Use it in the cockpit; use the mechanical for practice and checkrides.
~$60
typical street price
Pros
  • Dramatically faster than mechanical for real flight planning
  • Built-in functions for all common pilot calculations
  • Reduces arithmetic errors on navigation logs
  • Approved for FAA written tests
  • Battery life measured in months
Cons
  • Some DPEs may not allow it during oral exam
  • Requires batteries
  • You won't learn the underlying math as intuitively
Worth the $60 for real-world use. Buy the ASA E6-B mechanical first, practice until you understand it, then add the CX-3 for actual planning.
View at Sporty's →

Plotter

A plotter is a clear plastic ruler with a protractor used to measure course angles and distances on sectional charts. You'll use it for every cross-country flight plan. It's a $10 item — just buy it.

Budget Pick
ASA Rotating Plotter (CP-5)
The standard VFR plotter. Clear markings, rotating compass rose, NM and SM scales.
~$10
or bundled in student kit
Pros
  • Includes both nautical mile and statute mile scales
  • Rotating compass rose makes reading course angles easier
  • Clear plastic — you can see the chart through it
  • Fits in any flight bag or kneeboard pocket
Cons
  • Can crack if sat on or jammed in a bag
  • Markings can be hard to read in low cockpit light
Don't overthink this. Any ASA plotter works. Buy it as part of the student kit below and save money.
Get the student kit →

Best value — the ASA Student Pilot Kit

If you're buying all of this anyway, the ASA Student Pilot Kit (~$50) bundles the mechanical E6B, plotter, flight log, and navigation log forms for less than buying them individually. It's the right starting point for most students.

E6B quick reference — what it solves

CalculationMechanical E6BElectronic CX-3ForeFlight
Wind correction angle✓ (wind side)✓✓ auto
Groundspeed✓ (wind side)✓✓ auto
Time/speed/distance✓ (calc side)✓✓ auto
Fuel burn✓ (calc side)✓✓ auto
Density altitude✓ (calc side)✓✗
True airspeed✓ (calc side)✓✗
Checkride approved✓ always✓ usually✗

Complete student pilot gear guide

🎒 All Gear Overview 🎧 Headsets 📋 Kneeboards 🔢 E6B & Plotters 📓 Logbooks 📱 Tablets & Apps 🗺️ Charts & Supplements 🕶️ Sunglasses 💼 Flight Bags