3D trace viewer.

The 3D viewer lets you view your flights in glorious 3D.

Actually, 4D because time is used as well.

But first some warnings:

  1. The 3D display runs in your browser, using a not too efficient language – Javascript - and uses heaps of processing power. So, to give your processor the best chance to be the most responsive, close all the browser tabs you aren’t using, and any other running apps as well. Make sure that your browser tab isn't zoomed in or out (on Chrome, if there is a + or - at the right hand end of the url bar the webapge is zoomed. Click on this and press reset) as this is a big load on the processor when displaying maps.
  2. A fair bit of image data is downloaded, so a good wifi connection is ideal. If you are using a data connection it can burn up some of your data allowance as well.

Now the warnings are out of the way, find a trace, and in the flight details click the Display 3D trace button.

The first view is the default view, and you can return to this at any time by clicking the Refresh view button. This is useful when you get lost in the scenery, and you will! Also, sometimes the app loses the plot as well, so clicking this resets it.

Click the ‘?’ button top right. This is a reminder of how the controls work, for a mouse or a touch screen. The best way to use a touch screen is to hold the device with your thumbs on the surface. Then move them in relation to each other. With a bit of practice, you can soon fly around the scenery. The display isn't yet optimised for small screens such as phones.

Use the Task transparency slider to change the task cylinder visibility

Sun shadows are on by default. Use the Sun shadow button to toggle. Sun shadows are accurate for the time of day, useful in the mountains.

On the task viewer use the Landouts button to toggle landouts on and off.

The clock on the bottom left allows you to change the speed of time passing – move the green triangle – or pause/reverse etc.

The time bar on the bottom has a toggle showing the current time. Grab this and you can play Doctor Who and move around in time.

Toggle full screen for the best, immersive, experience.

You can compare other flights for this task by picking one from the Compare dropdown box. The start time is synchronised so they both start at the same time, using the first flight’s time parameters.

Click on any of the traces or turnpoints and it will identified.

FYI, the turnpoint cylinders are 8000m high above sea level. Find a bit of sea and watch the waves move. You may see a ball shoot across the sky – that’s the moon.