Delighted to get so many helpful replies!
Thank you all. I'm still chuckling over this thread and on my tenth slow re-read (so far). Bear with me, I feel like I've jumped in at the deep end.
I like all the different approaches. Thanks for the link to the aviation calculations and conversions Peter - bookmarked (now you're really talking dead easy..
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I agree with what next in that it's good to keep in mind the big picture, and that's mostly how I try to approach the questions in the aerodynamics/flight mechanics section - I have to admit it, the maths is way above my head, so trying to understand the overall principles is my only hope. It's all ridiculously difficult (but in an exciting grrr-I'm-determined-to-crack-this-sort of way, if you see what I mean).
Flight computers? Well, we don't use them in PPL training/exams over here in France, so this Wizz Wheel/CRP-5/E6B I keep hearing about is still a mystery to me. I can see they must be useful. But not allowed in the exam - just a simple calculator is all we can use, so I was really looking for the sort of thing that 24Carrot, MikeCR and Genghis have come up with. Thanks for checking your notes! I'll make a note of that little formula 24Carrot posted. I also followed through your calculations Genghis - very helpful, thanks.
Now, Whopity, about OAT....I just have to ask
Corrected for what, exactly?
And why would I want to know my TAS? IAS is all I need in terms of aerodynamic performance, right? And GS is what I need for navigation? Right? Wrong?
Oh yes, I forgot! The answer is 250 kt (but you knew that...)