Flight Computer / Calculator

[BravoOne]

Sorry about the confusion, I was being too vague. . .. .Can anyone recommend a good ELECTRONIC flight computer from experience. It's hard to get value for money if you don't know about what you're buying.. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="confused.gif" /> . .Also if anyone can recommend a good calculator for the exa,s I would greatly apprecite it.. .. .Regards,. .B1.. . . . <small>[ 22 March 2002, 13:46: Message edited by: BravoOne ]</small>

[FlyingForFun]

If you're talking about the whiz-wheel type of flight computer, I don't know anyone who uses anything other than a CRP-1 if you're not planning on going any further than PPL, or a CRP-5 if you're planning on going commercial.. .. .The yanks have their own equivalents whose names escape me at the moment.... .. .FFF. .-------

[BillyFish2]

OATS are meant to be releasing their CRP-5 Computer Interactive Tutor this month - just heard from Pooleys it will be out in a few days. . .Check out:. .. .<a href="http://www.oxfordaviation.net/shop/crp5.htm" target="_blank">www.oxfordaviation.net/shop/crp5.htm</a>. . . . <small>[ 22 March 2002, 15:23: Message edited by: BillyFish2 ]</small>

[oxford blue]

If you really want an electronic flight computer, the Jeppesen EB 6B is about the best value for money. But I don't think you need a specialist Electronic Nav computer. You're going to need a whizz-wheel type anyway and with a combination of whizz-wheel and normal cheap scientific calculator, you've got better kit than an electronic flight computer. Basically, there are 4 types of operation that the CRP5 does for you.. .. .1. Multiplication and Division and Conversions, just like any slide rule. For these, you are probably better off with an electronic calculator.. .. .2. Distance, Speed and Time (and fuel-flow calculations). You can do these with a calculator, but it's actually quicker with a CRP5, once you get good at it. With a question like "You are doing 220 knots groundspeed, so how long will it take you to cover 57 nautical miles?", if you use a calculator, you get the answer in hours. You then need to multiply it by 60. By the time you've done that, you could have already had the answer on the CRP5, in terms of minutes, which is what you want, not hours. On the other hand, if the question is "Your groundspeed is 320 knots, so how far will you travel in 13 minutes?", then you need to divide, not multiply, by 60. With a calculator, decisions as to which way round to do the calculation, and slight loss of speed. No such problem with the CRP5. With that big black triangle on the inner scale, you work in base 60. It gives you the answer in the form you need it.. .. .3 TAS and Altitude Calculations. The CRP5 solves them simply and accurately.. .. .4 Wind Calculations - the relationship between Heading, Track, Drift, TAS, and Groundspeed. These are vector problems and would be too complicated on a normal programmable scientific calculator. You have been able to get specialist aviation calculators with the formulae already programmed for years, but these have never really caught on because the presentation on the CRP5 wind face, as well as solving the numerical problem, gives you an instant intuitive picture as to whether the wind is giving you mainly head/tailwind component or mainly crosswind, and a visual picture of whether it's head or tail and which direction the drift is in.

[Paul Hickley]

Following on from BillyFish2's post, the Oxford Pooley's CRP-5 Computer Based Training CR-ROM is now available in the shops. As I'm the author, I won't post saying how wonderful it is - it's just possible that I might be biased!

Apparently, both "Pilot" and "Flyer" magazines are going to review it next month, so you can make your own mind up.

If you want one, you can get it here:

http://www.oxfordaviation.net/shop/crp5.htm

All the best,

Paul Hickley