Aircraft Heading vs Sparkys E6B
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Aircraft Heading
This app provides a realistic aircraft heading indicator, mimicking analog aviation instruments. It features both analog and digital readouts, with a simulation mode for indoor use. Requires a device with a compass or GPS and a clear sky view.
- Photorealistic heading indicator
- Analog and digital readouts
- Smooth, realistic meter movement
- Simulation mode for indoor use
- Rotation lock
- Improved graphics
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Displays a photorealistic aircraft style heading indicator on your device. Modeled after analog instrumentation in general aviation aircraft. The meter movement is smooth and realistic. New version includes 1. Improved Graphics 2. Rotation Lock 3. Bug Fixes 4. Supports Latest iOS version and Device Displays both the analog instrument and a digital readout. Includes a simulation mode that allows the instrument to be demonstrated indoors without a GPS signal. Requires a device with a built in Compass or a built in GPS and a good GPS signal with a clear view of the sky. This software has been tested with firmware version 6.x and up only.
Sparkys E6B
This app emulates a mechanical E6B flight computer, offering digital readouts for precise calculations. It combines the speed and intuitiveness of analog input with the accuracy of digital output for various aviation computations.
- Digital readouts for calculations
- Analog input with cursors and steppers
- Multiplication and division
- Rate problems (fuel, time, speed)
- Wind correction angle calculations
- Conversions (miles, fuel, weight)
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Sparky's E6B emulates a mechanical E6B Flight Computer, with significant additional capabilities. The app provides digital readouts of values that would otherwise have to be eyeballed in a standard E6B. The use of cursors and steppers enables the precision of a digital computer with the speed and intuitiveness of an analog computer. The E6B is an analog computer invented in the 1930's by Lt. Philip Dalton, USN for purposes of training and flight calculations. The app can be used to perform calculations, or to practice and learn how to use a mechanical E6B. Advantages of analog slide-rule E6Bs include the speed of entering data, and continous operation that can enable a more intuitive feel for how outputs change as inputs are changed. If inputs are changed, it is simply a matter of a swipe or using a stepper to fine tune inputs, and outputs are updated simultaneously. Advantages of digital E6B's includes precision, but as E6Bs are in reality often used to estimate data, this precision often cannot be taken advantage of. Furthermore, entering data is slowed down by soft keypads popping up and down. It may be hard to understand how outputs change in response to inputs if individual numbers need to be entered on a keypad. Sparky's E6B provides the best of both worlds. The speed and intuitive entry of an analog E6B, along with the digital readout of a digital E6B. The "slide rule" or "front" side includes a circular log-log scale that can be used for multiplication, division, fuel consumption and time/speed/distance calculations. There are also various conversions available, such as nautical-miles/statute-miles/kilometers, fuel and oil volume and weight. The windows on the front are used for airspeed, various forms of "altitude' and mach number calculations. Digital output is provided for - Multiplication and division - Ascent and descent vertical and horizontal speed and angles - Rate problems such as gallons per hour, time to destination etc. - Density Altitude and True Airspeed calculations. - True Altitude Calculations - Mach speeds vs. temperature - Conversions of Nautical and Statue Miles to and from Kilometers - Volume of oil and fuel vs. weight - Conversion of Pounds to Kilograms - Conversion of Feet to Meters The "wind" side is a vector computer used to determine flight headings, wind correction angle etc. It also provides digital readouts to provide an intuitive feel for wind correction, as well as to let the inputs be fine-tuned or updated as conditions change. We have no ads and collect no personal information. We hope you enjoy Sparky's E6B and find it useful.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Sparkys E6B at Free against Aircraft Heading's $0.99. Sparkys E6B also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.3) and review sentiment (75% vs 48%). Aircraft Heading's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 57 months) and chart position (#83 vs unranked). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Sparkys E6B is free to download; Aircraft Heading costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Sparkys E6B holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 15 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of Aircraft Heading's written reviews are positive against 75% of Sparkys E6B's.
Aircraft Heading ships an update every 2 months, Sparkys E6B every 57 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Aircraft Heading | Sparkys E6B |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 2.3 (12 ratings) | 4.7 (15 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 48.0% of reviews | 75.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 12 | 15 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 57 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #83 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 7.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 34 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | iAware | Intineo LLC |
Customer experience
Aircraft Heading
Sparkys E6B
In-app purchases
Aircraft Heading
No in-app purchases
Sparkys E6B
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Aircraft Heading free?
Is Sparkys E6B free?
Which has better reviews, Aircraft Heading or Sparkys E6B?
Do Aircraft Heading or Sparkys E6B have ads?
Which is updated more often, Aircraft Heading or Sparkys E6B?
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