I really like Google Earth. It’s a free program that you download from Google that displays a 3D globe. It lets you zoom in and see terrain and satellite imagery. My friend claims he can see the car in his parent’s driveway. It is not just a toy – with the right add-ons it can be a useful tool for pilots.
What is even more impressive is the ability for other people to add functionality to the program and this is where it becomes useful for pilots.
For example, Lloyd Bailey has created a series of databases that contain visualisations of controlled airspace in different countries. You can download these and display them in 3D on Google Earth. There is even the option to overlay live transponder information from aircraft in flight.
There are also a number of programs that let you display GPS tracks on Google Earth. For example, goFlying (which also has a mashup with Google Maps that will display tracks and plans on a 2D map, very nice) or GPS Visualizer. More information about how to use this program with Google Earth can be found on the Google Earth Blog.
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