Free Online E6B Flight Computer

PilotDesk is a free online E6B flight computer for the wind, speed, distance, time, fuel, altitude and conversion math pilots use in flight planning.

Need one E6B calculation right now? Pick the function below and run it directly in your browser—no account or download required.

An E6B flight computer handles the recurring math behind flight planning: wind correction and groundspeed, time-speed-distance, fuel, altitude, true airspeed, climb and descent, and unit conversions. PilotDesk splits those jobs into focused calculators so you can open exactly the function you need, see the method, and share the result setup.

E6B wind calculations

The wind side of a traditional E6B solves a vector problem. Your desired course and true airspeed define the airplane's movement through the air. Wind adds another vector. The result is the heading required to hold the course and the groundspeed you can expect along it. PilotDesk's wind triangle calculator handles that relationship directly. For runway work, the crosswind component calculator breaks a reported wind into crosswind and headwind or tailwind components. The wind-correction-angle guide explains how WCA fits into the same problem.

The core relationship behind wind correction uses the cross-course part of the wind to determine wind correction angle. The along-course part changes groundspeed. Keep direction references consistent: a true course should be paired with true wind, while magnetic values should be paired with magnetic values. For converting direction references, use the true/magnetic heading calculator.

Time, speed, distance, and ETA math

On the calculator side of an E6B, the most common relationship is distance = speed × time. In aviation, knots are nautical miles per hour, which makes quick mental checks easier: 120 knots is 2 NM per minute, 90 knots is 1.5 NM per minute, and 60 knots is 1 NM per minute. Use time-speed-distance for exact values and NM per minute for a fast cockpit-style cross-check. The time-speed-distance guide walks through the relationship step by step.

Fuel burn, endurance, and range

Fuel arithmetic is another classic E6B task. Trip fuel equals fuel flow multiplied by trip time. Endurance is usable fuel divided by fuel flow. Range then depends on groundspeed, so wind matters. PilotDesk separates those jobs into fuel required, endurance and range, and fuel weight calculators. The fuel planning guide, fuel weight guide, and endurance/range guide connect the arithmetic to the bigger planning picture.

Pressure altitude, density altitude, and true airspeed

Electronic E6B functions commonly include pressure altitude, density altitude, and true airspeed. Pressure altitude normalizes the current pressure to the standard datum. Density altitude then accounts for air density, especially temperature. True airspeed relates the airplane's speed through the airmass to the indicated or calibrated value after atmospheric effects are considered.

Use the pressure altitude calculator, density altitude calculator, ISA temperature calculator, and true airspeed calculator. The pressure altitude guide, density altitude guide, and true airspeed rule guide explain the common training shortcuts and where they stop being precise.

Climb, descent, glide, and turn planning

PilotDesk also includes climb-gradient, descent-rate, glide-distance and turn calculations. Use the linked guide for the calculation you need.

Aviation unit conversions

Flight planning regularly moves between knots, MPH, KPH, nautical miles, statute miles, kilometers, pounds, kilograms, gallons, liters, inHg, hPa, Celsius, and Fahrenheit. PilotDesk has dedicated speed, distance, weight, volume, pressure, and temperature converters, plus the aviation conversion reference.

90 NM at 105 knots

At 105 kt groundspeed, a 90 NM leg takes 90 ÷ 105 = 0.857 hours, or about 51 minutes. At 9 gal/hr, trip fuel is about 7.7 gal. Add the applicable start, taxi, climb, alternate, reserve and contingency fuel separately.

Online E6B vs. a physical E6B

A browser calculator is fast for checking arithmetic and exploring what changes when one input moves. A physical E6B is still useful for understanding the relationships and may be required or preferred in some training or testing situations. Learning the rough mental checks is valuable either way. If a computed answer is wildly outside what the numbers should produce, stop and check units, signs, and direction references.

Frequently asked questions

What does an E6B flight computer calculate?

Traditional E6B work centers on wind correction, heading, groundspeed, time, speed, distance, fuel, altitude, airspeed, and conversions. Electronic versions often add climb, descent, turn, and other planning functions.

Can I use PilotDesk as an online E6B?

Yes for training and planning math. PilotDesk provides the main E6B-style functions as browser calculators with formulas and assumptions shown. For an actual flight, verify operational numbers against current approved aircraft data and official sources.

Is the PilotDesk E6B free?

Yes. The public calculators do not require an account.

Does an E6B replace a weather briefing or POH?

No. An E6B solves arithmetic. It does not replace an official weather briefing, current charts, regulations, procedures, aircraft limitations, performance charts, or pilot judgment.