Cheap metal E6-B?

[Chairboy]

Hi guys,

Anyone have any ideas on a place to get a cheap metal E6-B flight computer?  I just learned how to use one (freakin' cool), and $30 seems to be the going rate, but I thought I'd ask here before I run out if someone knows a place with good deals.

Thanks!

[Golfer]

I've got one I'll give ya.  I don't use it anymore.

It's around here someplace.  It's missing a screw so I'll run to lowes and get a new one if I find it.  Gimme a day.

I use a sporty's electronic one now...easy as pie.

[Chairboy]

Wow, thanks Golfer!  You sure you want to give it up?  My instructor thinks the electronic ones are a recipe for trouble, what with batteries & typing in turbulence, etc.  

If you're sure, I'll pay ya for it and I can fix it too.

Thanks!

[jigsaw]

Sanval Aviation Supplies over by Van Nuys.
Get the ASA ones. Some of the others are laid out a little differently.

I've got a big one that I use for flight planning and a mini that I keep in my bag.

Golfer: Electronic ones are great, until the battery dies. I've seen DEs give people a  hard time over the electronic ones, but they didn't bust them.

[Golfer]

I carry a pack of a dozen batteries with me (unopened) in the flight bag.  I have a Garmin Pilot III GPS and a Sportys Nav/Com handheld radio.  Lots of stuff to power so I carry plenty of batteries.

On the other hand...uhh...the last time I used it was...uhh...hmm...errr...ahhh ...uhh.  yep.

[SFRT - Frenchy]

Electronics ones are the way to go, except if you try to impress some familly member on your rocket science computations to fly a Cessna 150.

As far as the battery argument, if the lack of an E6B in a plane dictates life or death, you have other issues to worry about.

Always made me wonder the purpose of an E6B in a Diversion during a flight exam. The poor student, that can barely fly a plane straight and level of 2 minutes, does all the twist and turns of the evelish E6B, traces route on the map, to give me a precise }at the minute/at the gallon" number. When he proudly anounces his finding, he is flying upside down and has no idea what heading he has been flying for the last 10 minutes.

My metal E6B looks great on the wall of my office  

[Jackal1]

When I was 14 years old I was given flying lessons by an old spray pilot.
  This guy knew his stuff. I`ll never forget him.
  He made me a gift of an E6-B in a leather pouch. Was one of my prize possesions for many , many years.
  It was eventualy stolen.
  Some things can`t be replaced.

[Lizking]

I have a gen-u-wine wood slide rule you can have too....

[TalonX]

Jackal, it wouldn't have mattered if he gave you a pencil he used for 5000 hours of flight....nostalgia is important to some of us.

Sorry your computer was ripped off.  I know the feeling.

[jigsaw]

The young lady that was my CFI for my ppl had a stopwatch stolen that had carried a lot of sentimental value. When I got my ppl I gave her one with her name and CFI number engraved on it.

For the gentleman that was my CFI for my initial CFI, I gave a similarly engraved Zippo.

Good teachers are a rare find, and one of the most underappreciated things on the planet.

[LePaul]

Back when i was 15, I was given a Cessna Starter kit....came in a neat red bag...had a Cessna E6B and a bunch of guides.  Showed it to a friend a while back and he told me that setup is worth a lot (search me)

Like Golfer, I kept that and invested in the electronic version with oodles of batteries

Just need a new plastic slider for computing crosswinds again, the original is pretty dotted up

[Pongo]

Mine is built into my watch.

[moose]

im due for my flight exam and i wonder if i should look into an electronic one. frenchy, you hit it on the head when you described what my nightmare is...  im too afraid that the inflight change of course will end up being my downfall

speaking of, what else should i expect?

[jigsaw]

Originally posted by moose
speaking of, what else should i expect?

Mandatory minimum of 1 hr ground, 1 hr flight.  When I do them, I try to call beforehand to introduce myself and become familiar with the other persons flying experience.  

For example, if I'm doing a review for a pvt pilot that's flying on a regular basis, it's a pretty straight forward review on the ground. Steep turns, stalls, slow flight, hood time, and at least one emergency in the air.  Takeoffs and landings done either short, soft, or power off 180.

For someone with more advanced ratings, it's more in depth.
With someone that's rusty, it might turn into an all day thing or even span multiple days.

Best advice I could give would be call ahead and talk to the person you plan on flying with. Let them know your experience, type of flying you do, and any specific areas you'd like to work on.
Definitely get some hood time. Pick up a PTS according to your certification level.

It's also a good opportunity to work toward a phase of the ASF Wings  program.

[SFRT - Frenchy]

Originally posted by moose
im due for my flight exam and i wonder if i should look into an electronic one. frenchy, you hit it on the head when you described what my nightmare is...  im too afraid that the inflight change of course will end up being my downfall

speaking of, what else should i expect?

Like Jig said, the rare time I do those BFR, it depends on the student.

I think the ground is the most important for low yearly flight time BFRs. I try to keep them out of trouble so I do mostly:

Airspaces  Want to make sure that grand pa knows how to recognize airspaces and doesn't land in formation with a CHP flapper. Those days, the idea is to emphasize on those pop-up TFRs.

The rest is mostly aircraft systems, not too in detail, just how much gallons you burn at what power setting, use of equipment or systems. (Like piper pilots flying Cessnas always forget about carbheat).

The flight part is usually very relaxed, I am not expecting the guy to do all the manoeuvers at the PTS standards. I am looking for the guy to make the appropriate correction. Example, for a stall, to lower the nose, rather than the whole nine yard of the approved PTS task procedure. I like to find an remote uncontroled airport and simulate an engine failure at 2000 AGL. They also like being put in the test pilot skin, compare rate of descents flaps up/down, prop feathered yes/no. I think it's a fun way to anchor reflexes in their head.

I always finish by: "Would you like to do something you have in mind?" Sounds silly but most always have a simple thing they are affraid to try, that grows up in their head, till they "have to try". I prefer to be there with them in the cockpit to tell them what I think, or at least show them how to do it safely. Stuff like 0gs (Not end up too steep nose down blasting thru VNE pulling Gs), wing over.

I feel that a BFR is not something that the sunday pilot should fear, but something he should look foward, knowing that the CFI will not try to bigleague him, and yet may learn a couple of pointers or forgotten good habits.