Cross country flights 2009

(For the current year, see http://www.judithmole.net/blog/?page_id=500)

This is for tracklogs of XCs by Judith and Geoff. These can be viewed in two different ways:

1. Google Maps (two dimensional). This does not require you to have Google Earth installed, and it also provies some statistical information about the flight. The tracklog is displayed in red on a Google map, defaulting to the hybrid view, i.e. it displays the place names overlaid onto the satellite image. You can change this view by selecting Map or Satellite from the top right. To get more detail, use the controls on the left to zoom in, or double click on the map point where you want it to zoom.

Click on the button below the map to see the flight statistics.

If the red line for the tracklog doesn't appear at first (when the page has finished loading, which may seem a little slow, because there are all the GPS waypoints to process for the map and altitude graph), just drag the map around slightly, and it should then appear.

2. Google Earth (three dimensional). If you have Google Earth installed, you can view the KML file with extrusion enabled, which gives a nice view of the flight. You get less statistical information than with Google maps, but it shows the altitude very graphically. You do need to adjust the view (tilt) on Google Earth when the file is loaded, to view it from the side. When you open GE, a slider control on the top right will appear which allows you to adjust the angle at which you view the tracklog. The default is viewing from above, but if you move the slider you will be able to view from the side, which shows the tracklog extruded (i.e. extended) down to the ground. NOTE: the latest version of GE (4.3.7284.3916 (beta)) handles tilt differently. If your mouse has either a middle button or a depressible scroll wheel, you can tilt the view by depressing the button and moving the mouse forwards or backwards. If your mouse has a scroll wheel, you can tilt the view by pressing the SHIFT key and scrolling. You can also press SHIFT and the left mouse button and drag. Note that crosshairs appear and that your view tilts from this point.

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