I still use the E6B flight computer when flying around in a Cessna or Piper. Many years ago while serving “haze gray and underway”, I would use a Nautical Slide Rule. Both of these are circular slide rulers.

From: Will Marchant <will@spaceflightsoftware.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2022 11:02 AM
To: amsat-bb@amsat.org
Subject: [AMSAT-BB] Re: Slide Rules

Thanks for doing all that outreach, Clint! 

Your post has generated a lot of slide rule nostalgia.  There were a number of analog computing devices developed for the aerospace industry. 

One of the ones I'm fascinated with is the "Martin Space Rule and Handbook" and I gave a talk about it at the https://www.oughtred.org/meetings/Virtual_IM2020.shtml virtual meeting a couple of years ago.  I suspect the orbital mechanics in that recorded video will be "old hat" to the crew on this listserv but some of you you might be interested in the history of the rule.

One of the really cool things, in my opinion, is the handbook that goes along with the slide rule.  And the Computer History Museum was kind enough to scan their copy and make it available on this https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102746940 page for all of us to enjoy.
    73,
    Will

On 5/14/22 6:18 PM, Clint Bradford via AMSAT-BB wrote:

During my satellite presentations, I will ask attendees to access their 

slide rules as we together derive satellite pass data manually, to graph 

each pass on equatorial graph paper …

“What - no one has a slide rule?” I will playfully chide them. “Didn’t the 

club president tell you all to have him for the presentation?”

Well, the Puget Sound Repeater Group just floored me: EIGHT SLIDE 

RULES were in the audience (three from one person, including a 

circular one and I recognized another as a Pickett Vector Model 300 - 

in its original leather case)!

-- 
Will Marchant, KW4WZ
will@spaceflightsoftware.com
http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/will/