1Location
Where are you landing? Search for a place or airfield, or use a quick option.
1335 for Taupō. Heights in the app are above this, so it matters.
2Winds
Would you like to use forecast winds (these include winds aloft at each height), enter them yourself, or fly in still air?
No wind: still air, so you can play on any day without a forecast. You can also change this later and scale the wind in the simulator. Forecast: fills winds at each height for you, and you can still change any row. Manual: you type them, for example from the windsock or a briefing. In the table, "270° / 12 kt" means wind blowing from the west at 12 knots.
| Height AGL | From ° (1–360) | Speed kt | Source |
|---|
Change any row to override it. Directions wrap around, so 361 becomes 1.
Maps and forecasts use true north. Windsocks, compasses, runway headings and ATIS use magnetic north, which is what pilots work in. Pick the one you want to type and read.
ⓘ Why does this matter?
Google Earth and this app's map point to true north. A compass points to magnetic north, which in New Zealand is about 20° east of true. So a grass runway that is 311° on the ground (magnetic) is about 331° true on the map. Type headings in the compass you chose and the app does the conversion for you. Forecast winds are given in true north and are shown here in your chosen compass.
3Canopy
Picking one fills in the glide ratio. A flatter glide (2:1) needs turns closer in.
85 kg: you plus jumpsuit, rig and everything else.
170 sq ft. Printed on your canopy.
3 means 3 ft forward per 1 ft down. Higher flies further.
20 kt. Worked out from weight and size, or type your own.
Enter your weight and canopy size. A small canopy with a high wing loading flies fast, dives hard and turns quickly in the game. Level it off on the rear risers, then use the toggles at the end, like a canopy pilot's swoop.
4Flight
Landing pattern: you get a shadow line on the ground and a ghost canopy to follow, and the app tells you how well you kept to it. Free flight: no pattern. Start at the height you choose and fly wherever you like to land on the target.
Pick my own points: the app walks you through it backwards. You tap where you want to land, then your final turn, then your base turn, then your holding point. It then tells you the height to be at for each. Left or right hand is worked out from your points.
Start from heights: you type the heights and the app places the points. Example: 1000 / 500 / 250 ft puts the turns exactly where those heights work in today's wind.
Optional. Save how your drop zone likes patterns flown. The app builds the rules into the suggested pattern, and warns you when a pattern goes against them.
The grass runway or landing strip. Final is flown up or down it, using whichever direction has the better headwind.
In Automatic, if the crosswind along the strip would be more than this, final goes into wind instead.
For example the side away from the buildings. Left or right hand is then picked for you, depending on which way you land.
Hazards: to mark areas patterns should avoid (buildings, a road), use “Add DZ hazard” above the map in step 6. They are saved with this drop zone and every pattern is checked against them.
The direction you want to fly on final. 180 means you land heading south. Leave it empty to use the choice above.
Automatic: in “Pick my own points” the suggestion keeps the final heading of the points you placed and moves the heights and turn points around it. Otherwise it uses your drop zone's strip if you have one, and into wind if not. Into wind ignores the strip. If your final ends up across the wind, the app shows the crosswind and a reminder on crosswind technique.
Left hand means every turn is to the left (downwind, base and final all turn left). Right hand is the mirror. Use whichever your drop zone flies.
Straight lines: you crab so each leg is a straight line over the ground and turns are exactly 90°. Heading and drift: you hold a compass heading and the wind pushes you sideways, so the legs skew downwind.
In "Pick my own points" these are what you'd normally aim for. The app compares them with the height each of your points really needs, and builds the suggested pattern from them.
1000: where you hold before the downwind leg.
500: where you turn from downwind onto base.
250: where you turn onto final.
Landing line: tap to draw a line on the map to the landing point, then drag its orange handle to choose your own landing direction.
5No-fly zones
Would you like to add some no-fly zones? You'll draw them on the map in the next step.
Houses, a road, a lake. Any leg that crosses one turns red.
5Check and fly
Tip: add no-fly zones (hangars, runways) above first, and any leg that crosses one turns red.
- Tap the map or drag the orange target to move your landing point.
- Drag H, B or F to make your own pattern. The heights update to match.