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Flight tracking in Google Earth

Flight tracking in Google Earth

Old Mar 17, 2006, 2:15 pm
  #1  
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Flight tracking in Google Earth

This is pretty cool: http://www.lifehacker.com/software/g...ing-161162.php

It's a plugin for Google Earth that lets you track flights in real time.
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Old Mar 17, 2006, 2:36 pm
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Very, very cool!

An alternative (not as cool, but cool nonetheless) is to put in the flight number in Google (e.g., UA 500) and then click on the fboweb link that comes up for flight tracking -- it uses Google maps (two dimensional though) to track the flight.
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Old Mar 17, 2006, 2:51 pm
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Very cool. Thanks for posting this. ^

The trick from cblaisd did not work for me (LT 909)
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Old Mar 17, 2006, 2:53 pm
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I prefer to track my flights using my own GPS with a plugin to Google Earth. Beats any IFE tracking system.
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Old Mar 17, 2006, 3:08 pm
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Originally Posted by USAFAN
Very cool. Thanks for posting this. ^

The trick from cblaisd did not work for me (LT 909)
My bad. You have to use the three letter code. E.g., UAL or NWA et al
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Old Mar 17, 2006, 3:09 pm
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Originally Posted by cblaisd
An alternative (not as cool, but cool nonetheless) is to put in the flight number in Google (e.g., UA 500) and then click on the fboweb link that comes up for flight tracking -- it uses Google maps (two dimensional though) to track the flight.
And there's a link from there to track it in Google Earth now, too.
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Old Mar 17, 2006, 3:15 pm
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Originally Posted by gradvmedusa
I prefer to track my flights using my own GPS with a plugin to Google Earth. Beats any IFE tracking system.
Uh. Yeah.

But this is a solution for people on the ground.

Plus; not all airlines allow GPS units, AND you need a pretty big cache to get decent detailed maps when working offline.
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Old Mar 17, 2006, 3:16 pm
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Originally Posted by ScottC
...But this is a solution for people on the ground....
Indeed, like when you're wanting to track a family member's or friend's flight.
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Old Mar 17, 2006, 3:37 pm
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Originally Posted by alanw
This is pretty cool: http://www.lifehacker.com/software/g...ing-161162.php

It's a plugin for Google Earth that lets you track flights in real time.
Sorry, I'm too stupid for this...!?

Where on that page can I start the download, can't find it....please help!


YEAH! BBI is coming!
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Old Mar 17, 2006, 3:55 pm
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Originally Posted by cblaisd
Very, very cool!

An alternative (not as cool, but cool nonetheless) is to put in the flight number in Google (e.g., UA 500) and then click on the fboweb link that comes up for flight tracking -- it uses Google maps (two dimensional though) to track the flight.
That is awesome!
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Old Sep 5, 2006, 11:23 pm
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Originally Posted by cblaisd
Very, very cool!

An alternative (not as cool, but cool nonetheless) is to put in the flight number in Google (e.g., UA 500) and then click on the fboweb link that comes up for flight tracking -- it uses Google maps (two dimensional though) to track the flight.
So, how do these websites work? Do the airlines update the info in real-time, or some kind of ATC feed?
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Old Sep 6, 2006, 7:51 am
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I use this

I use this
http://flightaware.com/live/
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Old Sep 6, 2006, 7:26 pm
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Originally Posted by szaicev
I find flightaware to be about five minutes delayed from actual. I tested it by watching a MEM-HSV flight land in HSV (from my room at the Four Points). When I saw it touchdown on 18L, flightaware showed it was still at a few thousand feet. I kept refreshing until it showed landed - roughly five minutes later.

The NWA phone system seems up to the minute (or even second) as I have called seconds after touchdown and gotten the "flight has landed, but not arrived at the gate yet".
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Old Sep 7, 2006, 12:06 am
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Originally Posted by szaicev
I tried that on a UAL flight to London ,
but the map stops registering at the Canadian border,

still pretty cool

Rally
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Old Sep 14, 2006, 5:34 am
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I thought this was going to be really cool... until I discover its only for flights in the USA & Canada. I tried flightaware but the same applies there

Does anyone know of a (ideally free) tool which works globally?
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