Real Time Data
Real time data feeds will be active only when the C-130 is in the air. When not, data from the last research flight may or may not display via the links on this page.

Please note that the C-130 relies upon the satellite link to transmit position and other data. If data transmission stops it indicates that satcom has dropped out. This is not a cause for alarm or sign of an emergency.

A number of real time products will be available on the ground during research flight. These include the C-130 track and instrument data for GoogleEarth; a browser version of the instrument data; and data visualization using Aeros.

Real-Time Flight Position in Google Earth

To use, open the provided KMZ file in Google Earth and check the desired checkboxes. The C-130 tracking will be updated automatically once the flight takes off. Forward looking video is not available at this time.

Browser Data Access

Selecting variables from the list will display them as a strip chart. The charts will not refresh automatically, so use your browser's "Refresh" function to update the plots. Access data here. The list of variables displayed using this method is dynamic and is automatically updated every flight, so you will be able to see all variables transmitted to the ground during the current flight.

Aeros Software

Use right mouse click in the Aeros window after connecting the RT-GROUND database to add new graphs, variables etc. Download Aeros Software here.  Aeros is the most flexible way of viewing the C-130 data in real time, it allows to zoom in, out, select time intervals to display; it will show data as time series, X-Y plots, 3D flight track and many other ways but is only available for Windows or Linux at this time. Aeros is built around mouse clicks: to start working with Aeros, right-click to add items, right-click on existing items to modify them, etc. We hope you will find Aeros intuitive and easy to use.

If everything else fails to show the C-130 position

You can also see the approximate location of the C-130 on FlightAware based on the filed flight plan and timing of the flight. Please realize that FlightAware does not use any data feeds from the C-130 and does not always provide an accurate real time position. Also, if the airplane is flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), the flight track will not be visible on FlightAware.

Data provided in real time should not be used in any publication as they are preliminary and will change after proper quality control. Even after formal data release these data should only be used with proper acknowledgment of the NSF and project researchers.