Kane Dead Reckoning Computer
I came across an interesting series of articles recently titled Manual Calculation - Using a Slide Rule.
The author, Mark CC says…
I know a lot of people think that the idea of learning to use something like a slide rule is insane in an age of computers and calculators, and that this is a silly thing to post about.
My strong view is that a lot of adolescent mathematics students really struggle because (to use simplistic Piagetian notions) they are still at the concrete operations level and they have not fully progressed to the formal operations stage necessary for abstract thought.
So any kind of device or approach that helps to make mathematics more concrete and visual should be applauded - or at least tried out.
The Kane Dead Reckoning Computer
The discussion on slide rules reminded me of my private pilot days. I was required to buy the (unfortunately named) Kane Dead Reckoning Computer. This was a very clever device that helped in the calculation of:
- Time, ground/air speed and distance problems
- Fuel consumption
- Altimeter and airspeed corrections (for atmospheric pressure and temperature variations)
- Airspeed corrections
- Density altitude
- Drift correction (if you find yourself off course)
- Conversions (the flying world uses a confusing plethora of units - nautical miles, knots, km, U.S gallons, Imperial gallons, litres, feet, pounds, kg)
- Wind and plane velocity vector problems (hence the name “dead reckoning”)
Images courtesy of Greg’s Slide Rules.
The circular sliderule face of the Kane computer:
Detail showing how to do a time/distance/speed calculation:
The reverse side of the computer showing the windspeed/true direction linear slide. You would put a dot (using pencil) on the translucent circular dial indicating the wind speed and direction, then slide the large metal plate to find your true direction. This plate could be reversed for larger speeds.
Footnote: I was given an electronic flying calculator which I always carried as a spare - but it was never as easy to use as the Kane computer. This was because the Kane is a visual instrument - the electronic one was nowhere near as intuitive. And besides, with the Kane computer there was no need to worry about the battery dying!
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John Melverton said,
February 25, 2007 at 7:46 am
I too have a Kane mk-6b it in its original box & has never been used. I would like to know if there is any one who would like to purchase it
regards
John
zac said,
February 26, 2007 at 2:36 am
Hi John
I hope you manage to sell your Kane computer. I guess most pilots are using hand-held GPS now, and the demand will be less. (Is that true? I haven’t been flying for some years now.)
I was intrigued by the URL that you linked to your name: http://australia/. It works, without any “.com” or whatever.
Go Aussie, oy oy oy…!
Mike said,
April 13, 2007 at 2:10 am
I just found my Uncle’s MK6B, and it is much nicer than the ASA E6B. Having just finished ground school the Kane device is better for CAS-TAS and Density Altitude calculations as the temperature scale in the little window for Air Speed correction has negative values on the left of zero.
I cant count the number of times I screwed that up with the E6B, as it has negative values right of zero…
zac said,
April 13, 2007 at 2:59 am
You’ve raised an important usability point, Mike. When flying, we don’t have time to perform unnecessary mental gymnastics.
Designers of anything, please note.
S.G. VanBenschoten said,
December 24, 2007 at 3:55 am
Someone donated a Kane Dead Reckoning Computer to our church thrift shop to sell. Could someone please tell me a fair price that we could ask for it.
It is exactly like the one pictured above.
Thank you.
S.G. VanBenschoten
zac said,
December 24, 2007 at 9:35 am
I can’t help you on a price suggestion, S.G.
To give you some sort of indication, the average number of hits to this page from people searching for “kane dead reckoning computer” (or similar) is less than 5 per day. There is not a huge amount of interest in this device.
As I said in the article, it could be good for math teachers to use this device with their students. There are many possible learning outcomes, like units, vectors, angles, compass bearings, velocity, altitude and air pressure, etc. And this is all in a “real” context of flying.
Check out this well-crafted lesson for schools using a dead reckoning computer [PDF file].
Oni said,
December 29, 2007 at 5:27 am
Hello,
I had the MK-6B handed down to me from my father.
I still use it although there are now pocket version.
Mine is also in magnificent condition
zac said,
December 29, 2007 at 8:36 am
Oni, do you work for Air Gold Coast?
I used to fly at the Gold Coast (using one of your competitors
) in the early 1990s.
The cost of flying here in Singapore is prohibitive, so I have to be satisfied with PC-based simulators these days.
Carolyn Usher said,
April 9, 2008 at 9:38 am
I was wondering if anyone had the manual to the Kane Dead Reckoning Computer, Model MK-6B in .pdf or any other format. I received one of these computers after my ASA E6B got stolen and I am not sure of a couple of windows on the computation side of the slide ruler. Any help would be appreciated.
Jerry Sunman said,
April 19, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Carolyn,
The pdf. for the MK6 manual is on Greg’s Slide Rules web site. The link is near the top of this page.
Alan Bradshaw said,
July 20, 2008 at 7:13 pm
I am getting to use a Kane MK-6B in my effort to fulfill a life-time dream and obtain my pilot’s license. Purchased in a second-hand book shop it is quite stiff and difficult to adjust without overshooting the targeted graduation. What would be a suitable lubricant for this aluminium rotating disks device?
zac said,
July 21, 2008 at 10:06 am
Sorry, I’m not sure how to answer this one about lubricants.
Anyone?
zac said,
July 22, 2008 at 9:25 pm
[Thanks for this response from a subscriber by email ...]
What about a dry graphite spray? The reason I say dry is because there are several that are wet. If you have trouble finding one, look in an auto repair store. Let me know how it works out.