Aircraft Heading vs Sporty's E6B Flight Computer
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.
Sporty's E6B Flight Computer
This aviation calculator app offers 27 functions for navigation, fuel calculations, and conversions. It includes a versatile timer for tracking multiple time zones and performing countdowns with alerts. Designed for pilots, it simplifies complex flight planning and in-flight computations.
- 27 Aviation Functions
- 22 Aviation Conversions
- Navigational Calculations
- Fuel Calculations
- Advanced Timer/Clock
- Zulu, Local, and Home Time Tracking
- Basic Arithmetic Calculator
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Based on Sporty’s popular handheld E6B Electronic Flight Computer, the E6B app has been designed from the ground up to make the most of iOS on the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, and MacOS on Apple Computers. The software is based on the tried and true formulas and algorithms developed over the years by Sporty’s team of over 50 pilots. Its pilot-friendly design makes quick work of any navigational, conversion or fuel problem and it also performs conventional arithmetic calculations. The advanced timer/clock feature simultaneously tracks Zulu, Local and Home time zones. The timer counts either up or down, and will display an alert when reaching zero. 27 AVIATION FUNCTIONS -Pressure & Density Altitude -Planned True Airspeed -Heading and Groundspeed -Compass Heading -Leg Time -Fuel Required -Crosswind, Headwind and Tailwind -Cloud Base and Freezing Level -Actual True Airspeed -Actual True Altitude -Wind Speed and Direction -Groundspeed -Planned Mach Number -Required True Airspeed -Required Calibrated Airspeed -Distance Flown -Endurance -Fuel per Hour -Actual Mach Number -Percent Mean Aerodynamic Chord (MAC) -Hydroplane Speed -Required Rate of Climb -Specific Range -Pivotal Altitude -Top of Descent -Required Rate of Descent -Glide Distance 22 AVIATION CONVERSIONS -Celsius :: Fahrenheit -Nautical Miles :: Statute Miles -Nautical Miles :: Kilometers -Feet :: Meters -Pounds :: Kilograms -Avgas Gallons :: Pounds -Jet A Gallons :: Pounds -Gallons :: Liters -Hours/Minutes/Seconds :: Hours -Climb FT/NM :: Climb Percent -Climb FT/NM :: Climb Degrees CALCULATOR -Perform basic math without having to exit the application CLOCK/TIMER -Simultaneous tracking of Zulu, Home and Local time zones -Advanced timer counts up or down and operates independently so you can perform other calculations while the timer is running -Upon reaching zero in the countdown mode, a message will display no matter what app is active – a useful feature for missed approaches, switching fuel tanks, etc.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Sporty's E6B Flight Computer at 4.9 against Aircraft Heading's 2.3. Sporty's E6B Flight Computer also leads on ratings volume (5.3K vs 12) and chart position (#6 vs unranked). Aircraft Heading's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $9.99) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 14.0). On ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Aircraft Heading costs $0.99 and Sporty's E6B Flight Computer $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Sporty's E6B Flight Computer holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sporty's E6B Flight Computer has 5.3K ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of Aircraft Heading's written reviews are positive against 59% of Sporty's E6B Flight Computer's.
Aircraft Heading ships an update every 2 months, Sporty's E6B Flight Computer every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Aircraft Heading | Sporty's E6B Flight Computer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 — better | $9.99 |
| Rating | 2.3 (12 ratings) | 4.9 (5.3K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 48.0% of reviews | 59.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 12 | 5.3K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 4 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | #6 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 7.0 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 34 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | iAware | Sporty's Pilot Shop |
Customer experience
Aircraft Heading
Sporty's E6B Flight Computer
Bugs and requests
Aircraft Heading
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Sporty's E6B Flight Computer
Reported bugs
6 issues- Keyboard not working on iPad and iOS 26
- Pressure altitude tool not accepting certain numbers
- Weight and balance not accepting decimal points
- Heading and groundspeed calculations not working
- Density altitude calculation issues
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- Keyboard issues causing number scrambling
Requested features
8 requests- Add weight and balance feature
- Improve Apple Watch support
- Add cold temperature correction for DA and MDA
- Add glide path calculation to TOD
- Add time calculation like on electronic E6B
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- Allow inputting required rate of climb
- Add magnetic variation input field
- Add more metric unit support
In-app purchases
Aircraft Heading
No in-app purchases
Sporty's E6B Flight Computer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Aircraft Heading free?
Is Sporty's E6B Flight Computer free?
Which has better reviews, Aircraft Heading or Sporty's E6B Flight Computer?
Do Aircraft Heading or Sporty's E6B Flight Computer have ads?
Which is updated more often, Aircraft Heading or Sporty's E6B Flight Computer?
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