Please note that the GV 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 GV 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 GV tracking will be updated automatically once the flight takes off, and the forward looking camera image will also update periodically. Real time variables can be viewed by using the most common radio buttons, or click on the folder name itself to display the full list of variables available, then select one from the list. Remember to empty the Temporary Places folder when exiting Google Earth. Please note that the full list of variables is not updated automatically; as we add new variables to the data feed you will need to re-load the KMZ file to make sure you can see the new variables (if any). Adjust transparency of the overlays as desired.

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 GV 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.

Real Time Digital Imagery

The GV is equipped with a forward looking digital camera. The imagery from this camera is used to reconstruct the conditions along the flight track, identify cloud entry times, cloud base altitude etc. We are sending reduced size images to the ground every two minutes and these images are available as they are received from the PREDICT field catalog.

Field Catalog

PREDICT Field Catalog is a collection of data products, status reports and operation plans. Some real time data may also be available there, including not only the data from the GV (such as real time digital images from the wing mounted camera) but also semi-RT satellite imagery and model products.

If everything else fails to show the GV position

You can also see the approximate location of the GV 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 GV 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.