Anyone else ever use one of these? (Page 1/1)
blackrams FEB 20, 12:15 PM
A circular slide rule. I hated having to carry this thing in flight school. Don't risk not havng it with you on a training flight, a quick way to flunk that flight.

Regardless, was going through some of my stuff, forgot I still had this. While somewhat cumbersome, every bit as accurate as any calculating device and at one time considered essential for pilots. Don't even think of bringing a battery powered calculator with you on a flight, the IP would declare that you just had a battery failure. No idea if they are even issued any longer. Anyway, just thought I'd share this.




Officially, it's a CPU-26A/P, Computer, Air Navigation, Dead Reckoning calculator.
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Rams

Isn't it strange that after a bombing, everyone blames the bomber, his upbringing, his environment, his culture, his mental state but … after a shooting, the problem is the gun.........

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 02-20-2023).]

MidEngineManiac FEB 20, 12:28 PM
Called an E6B in the civy world.

Had no choice, the hand-held electronic ones were only just coming into existence, and only military had GPS or glass cockpits.

Got around by E6B, H.I., compass and a map. A lot of areas forget the VOR. Didnt ya know IFR stands for "I follow roads", which isnt that far from the truth !
blackrams FEB 20, 12:33 PM

quote
Originally posted by MidEngineManiac:
.A lot of areas forget the VOR. Didnt ya know IFR stands for "I follow roads", which isnt that far from the truth !



Apparently, you've not flown a OH58 A model. Pretty basic helicopter, no VOR, NDB only and don't think I ever followed roads but, was damn glad they paint the names of the cities on water towers. Scout Pilots would never admit to actually following roads ya know.

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Rams
Learning most of life's lessons the hard way. Hey, you don't forget those and repeat them.

Wichita FEB 20, 03:10 PM
Yes. I used to have a flight computer.

But, as I understand it, it was basically helping your figure out the variation in your flight due to windspeed and wind direction.

I remember even using the air sectional charts for VFR, there was a VOR I remember being something like 12-degress off calibration, because it hasn't been calibrated in a while. It may be in the process of being decommissioned.


How things change now, but how much still remains the same is surprising too.
blackrams FEB 20, 05:41 PM

quote
Originally posted by Wichita:

Yes. I used to have a flight computer.

SNIP

How things change now, but how much still remains the same is surprising too.



There're all kinds of uses for this circular slide rule, it'll do anything a standard slide rule will do if, you know how to use it. Although, it is specifically set up for aviation. Due to lack of practice and use, I've forgotten the vast majority of things I used to do with it.

Rams

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 02-20-2023).]

MidEngineManiac FEB 20, 07:24 PM

quote
Originally posted by blackrams:


There're all kinds of uses for this circular slide rule, it'll do anything a standard slide rule will do if, you know how to use it. Although, it is specifically set up for aviation. Due to lack of practice and use, I've forgotten the vast majority of things I used to do with it.

Rams




When its in the kneeboard, make a pretty stable place for the ashtray.
Notorio FEB 21, 07:55 PM
I had a chem professor back in the 80s who used a slide rule for calculations. He would 'bet' the class he could calculate any math problem faster than our calculators and for the year I had him, he never lost the 'bet.'
blackrams FEB 21, 08:45 PM

quote
Originally posted by Notorio:

I had a chem professor back in the 80s who used a slide rule for calculations. He would 'bet' the class he could calculate any math problem faster than our calculators and for the year I had him, he never lost the 'bet.'



I would believe that. I had some Instructor Pilots that were Wizzards with it but, I won't pretend to be anywhere near as fast as they were but, that was something they stressed on every check ride so, they were much more practice. After going to MTP school and doing mostly test flights, I pretty much gave up using it. Did a bunch more preflights, sorties and test flights but, they were all pretty short in duration. Had to get back on the ground and check out the next bird.

Although the birds I flew are old by today's standards, they were still a blast to fly but, I'm getting off topic. I'm sure your professor had his stuff together and your fellow students really didn't stand a snowball's chance in hell.

Rams
MidEngineManiac FEB 21, 09:10 PM
LMAO !

Once I got into the photo-survey work, I drove this one instructor crazy. Flat out told him I got 3 1/2 hours gas, and 2 hours worth of film with me. That's all the fuel calculations I need.
hnthomps FEB 22, 11:58 AM
I have used circular slide rules many times during my lifetime. They are really no different than the standard linear slide rules but are a slightly more compact version. The E6B is still in my flight bag for more than 40 years and the batteries are still good (LOL). I also gave some specialized process circular slide rules (water flow, gas flow, and a few other applications) in a box of consulting literature.

Definitely old tech but useful. Likely 80% of people alive now would not even know what a slide rule is or how to operate.

Nelson